Georgia's Role In The Civil Rights Movement

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End of the white primary

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Instead of politics being led by whites, African American leaders are beginning to win prominent positions in politics.

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1946 Governor's Race

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This is also known as the three governor's controversy. After the death of Eugene Talmadge, there was much confusion over who would replace him as governor. Three people -- Melvin Thompson, Herman Talmadge, and Marvin Griffin -- all believed they were the governor and all began acting as though he was. At the end of it, Herman Talmadge was officially elected governor.

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Herman Talmadge

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Lengthened the school year, restructured the state highway department, created the Georgia Forestry Commission, and provided leadership for improvements in soil conservation programs. Elected to the US Senate in 1956, served there until 1981.

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1956 Georgia State Flag

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This represented the ideals of the antebellum south. It was offensive to blacks and most northerners who did not agree with the beliefs of the old Confederacy. It represented the hatred of whites toward blacks.

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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS

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The decision of this court case determined that "separate but equal" was "inherently unequal." Separate school facilities for blacks and whites were not equal. The Supreme Court legislated that it is unconstitutional for schools to be segregated by race.

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Sibley Commission

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A committee created to discuss the issue of integration. After, Georgia schools are required to integrate schools. Meetings were often held to see how the public felt about integration.

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Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes

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UGA allowed its first two black students to attend. They were escorted into the building by police. Many members of the public were outraged by this decision.

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Montgomery Bus Boycott

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Rosa Parks boarded a public bus and refused to give up her seat to a white male. As a result, she was arrested and people all over the south stopped using the public transportation system as a symbol of protest.

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Benjamin Mays

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An African American minister, educator, and activist. Mentor to MLK Jr. Long-time president of Morehouse College

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Southern Christian Leadership Conference

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Civil rights organization. Spread the movement through churches and functioned as a non-profit organization.

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Albany Movement

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s greatest failure. Intended to work toward desegregating schools; lack of organization.

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Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee

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Founded as a means to organize students and young people in their support for civil rights for African Americans. As they participated in sit ins, their actions angered whites and led to many acts of violence against them.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

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This person was a figurehead of the civil rights movement. He often spoke about non-violence as a way to earn rights for not only African Americans, but other minorities as well.

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Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Made discrimination illegal. Signed into law by Lyndon B Johnson

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Mood shift from Non-violence to Violence

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Groups like the SNCC intended to remain non-violent, but as violence against blacks continued, groups like the Black Panthers arose to encourage retaliation against whites.

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Lester Maddox

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Elected governor of Georgia as a segregationist; closed his business rather than comply with the civil rights act; he appointed more blacks to office than all other Georgia governors.

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William Hartsfield

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Contributed to Atlanta's transportation initiative. Persuaded Atlanta to buy Candler field, later turned into an airport which was named after him.

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Ivan Allen

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Contributed to Atlanta entertainment and cultural development; Removed "colored" and "white" signs in City Hall. Removed restrictions on African American policemen and integrated the city's fire department.

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Maynard Jackson

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Graduate of Morehouse College; First African American mayor of Atlanta; gave local citizens a voice in politics; The airport in Atlanta bears half of his name.

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Andrew Young

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Second African American mayor of Atlanta; first black congressman from Georgia since Reconstruction; in office when Atlanta won the bid for the 1996 Olympics

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March on Washington

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Led by MLK Jr., his famous "I have a Dream" speech was delivered here. Thousands of people stood with him to fight for civil rights.