Georgia in the Modern Civil Rights Movement

Introduction

As Atlanta, and the state of Georgia, continued to see tremendous growth, African Americans began demanding change in the social policies of the South. Benjamin Mas, a minister and President of Morehouse College in Atlanta, spoke out loudly against segregation. His teachings influenced students to become activists, specifically Martin Luther King, Jr. For four decades, the state and national government saw key leaders step up and demand change. Large pieces of federal legislation such as Brown v Board of Education brought revolutionary changes to the south with the integration of schools. The four decades of change reflected political activism to bring equality and end discrimination against the African Americans in the United States.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

Developments of the Civil Rights Movement (1940s-1950s): The 1940s-1950s saw the Civil Rights Movement begin to take hold in the southern United States. In Georgia, the state dealt with the Three Governor’s Controversy to determine who would lead the citizens through this time. The progressive governor, Ellis Arnall, made a lasting impact by ending the white’s only primary and desegregating city hall. Herman Talmadge, son of Governor Eugene Talmadge, led the state from 1948-1955 focusing on education reforms.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: The Civil Rights era took a turn when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became a strong advocate for equality. Martin Luther King, Jr. vocalized the concerns of the African American people and made great strides in the success of the Civil Rights agenda.

Developments of the Civil Rights Movement (1960s-1970s): During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement continued to gain speed and attention. The key piece of legislation passed by Congress, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, called for the desegregation of all public facilities including schools. The work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others, saw the progression of change in the South that would continue to have lasting change into the 1970s.

The Impact of Andrew Young: Andrew Young left a legacy through his involvement in business, politics, and civil rights demonstrations. During the 1950s and 1960s he organized voter registration and desegregation efforts in Albany and other cities. He worked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. in the SCLC. President Jimmy Carter named Andrew Young ambassador to the United Nations in 1977. In 1981, he was elected mayor of Atlanta. He finished his career by helping bring the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta.

Key Terms

Boycott - the act of refusing to buy, sell, or use something
Sit-in - a form of protest where demonstrators occupy seats and refuse to move
Filibuster - a tactic used in the Senate to delay or stop the voting on a bill by making long speeches
Brown vs. Board of Education - 1954 court decision that declared state laws segregating schools to be unconstitutional. Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
S.N.C.C. (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) - a group established in 1960 to promote and use non-violent means to protest racial discrimination.
Albany Movement - Organization of black Americans formed in Albany, Georgia in October 1961 to promote civil rights.
Civil Rights Act - A federal law that authorized federal action against segregation in public accommodations, public facilities, and employment.

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