Modern Georgia (1)

Fighting For Equality

Modern Georgia

Tania Villatoro

Brown v. Board of Education

It was a landmark
decision of the U.S.
Supreme Court in which
the Court ruled that
American state laws
establishing racial
segregation in public
schools are
unconstitutional, even if
the segregated schools
are otherwise equal in
quality

The SNCC

The Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee was
founded by Martin Luther King
Jr. The SNCC was mostly made
up of college students. It was set
up to help African Americans
have a voice in the Civil Rights
movement. It started in North
Carolina in February 1960. They
were nonviolent and were led by
James Forman.

Sibley
Commission

A investigation by lawyer John Sibley to
determine what should be done about
integration in the state; though 60% of
Georgians claimed they would rather close
the public schools than integrate, Sibley
recommended that public schools
desegregate on a limited basis.

The March on
Washington

In 1963, over 250,000 civil rights activists
gathered in Washington D.C. to promote
their cause and push for civil rights
legislation. During the March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin
Luther King, Jr. gave what is arguably his
most famous speech: “I Have a Dream.”
The March on Washington encouraged the
passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964

John Lewis

John Lewis was a leader in
the Civil Rights
movement; leader of the
Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee;
U.S. Representative

Lester Maddox

Lester Garfield Maddox Sr. Known as the last
overtly segregationist governor in Georgia
history, Maddox appointed more
African-Americans to government positions than
all prior Georgia governors combined. Was
criticized for not allowing flags at state buildings
to fly at half-mast following Martin Luther King
Jr.'s death and for his fight against the civil rights
platform of the Democratic Party at their 1968
National Convention.

Maynard Jackson

Maynard Jackson the first African-American mayor of a major southern
city. From 1973 - 1981 he served as Atlanta's mayor and again from 1990 -
1994. While mayor he was instrumental in providing more contract work
to black-owned businesses and expanding Hartsfield Atlanta
International Airport. He also sought to add more black police officers to
the city's police force and to make sure that more African-Americans
were promoted in the department. The city of Atlanta honored Jackson
after his death in 2003 by renaming the airport to Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport.

Ellis Arnall

Following the death of Eugene Talmadge, the outgoing governor refused
to leave office until the "Three Governors Episode" was resolved as he
believed that the General Assembly did not have the authority to elect a
governor. Affiliated with the anti-Talmadge Democrats, Arnall was
escorted by state troopers out of the capitol as an order from Herman
Talmadge.

SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Committee)

An organization founded by Martin Luther King Jr., to work for civil rights
for African-Americans. Made up by a group of 60 ministers who worked
for the equality of all citizens. They worked together to fight injustice
through nonviolence.

Martin Luther King, Jr

Martin Luther King, Jr was a U.S. Baptist
minister and civil rights leader. A noted
orator, he opposed discrimination against
blacks by organizing nonviolent
resistance and peaceful mass
demonstrations. He was assassinated in
Memphis, Tennessee. Nobel Peace Prize
(1964)

1964 Civil Rights Act

This act made racial, religious, and
sex discrimination by employers
illegal and gave the government the
power to enforce all laws governing
civil rights, including desegregation
of schools and public places

Andrew Young

Aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ga's
first black representative to the House
of Representatives since
Reconstruction. US Ambassador to the
United Nations. Succeeded Jackson as
mayor. Brought the Democratic
Convention to Georgia and the 1996
Olympics to Atlanta

William Hartsfield

He served as the mayor of Atlanta for 6 terms. He is known for making
Atlanta an aviation hub for the Southeast and he helped lead the city in
civil rights. He is known as the Father of Atlanta Aviation, avoided the
severe racial problems the rest of the South had, and presented Atlanta as
a city “too busy to hate.”

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter was born in Southwest, Georgia . He was a Navy Officer but
he returned home when he father died. He was then elected to the Georgia
State Senate in 1962 and 1964. In 1970, Jimmy Carter was elected as
Georgia’s governor. He also founded the Carter Center. The Carter Center
monitored elections, resolved conflicts and treated diseases world-wide.
In 2002, Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The 1996 Olympic Games

Atlanta prepared for this important international event. In order to be ready, the
city built new or added to existing sports venues, repaired its sidewalks, built
public parks, added more hotel rooms, and revitalized the downtown area with new
homes and apartments. The short-term impacts of the Olympic Games in Atlanta
included the removal of the urban decay that downtown Atlanta was experiencing.
The Olympics gave Atlanta international name recognition with the city showing
that it was capable of hosting such a major event and being the home of the busiest
airport in the world, Atlanta has become a hub for conventions and sporting
events.. The population of the city increased dramatically from 3.5 million in 1996
to 5.5 million in 2011.

The End

Tania Villatoro