What people played a role in Georgia’s modern civil rights movement? March 17, 2015

Herman Talmadge Son of Gov. Eugene Talmadge First served as governor as part of the 3 Governor’s Episode Served as governor again from 1948-1954 While governor, the segregationist tried to reinstate the white primary.

Benjamin Mays President of Morehouse College from 1940-1967 Spiritual mentor and friend of MLK Introduced MLK to non-violent teachings of Gandhi 1942 – filed a lawsuit that led to desegregation of dining cars 1960 – encouraged students to stage sit-ins across Atlanta to end segregation

Benjamin Mays’ quote

Martin Luther King Jr. Most famous leader of modern civil rights movement Born in Atlanta and graduated from Morehouse College at 19 Used practices of non-violence and civil disobedience to protest segregation Preached at Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and helped organize bus boycott in that city

Moved to Atlanta to preach at Ebenezer Baptist Church and formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 Was assassinated in Memphis, TN in 1968

Hamilton Holmes/Charlayne Hunter 1st 2 African-American students to integrate the University of Georgia in 1961 Both had previously been denied admission to the University Were finally admitted after a court ordered UGA to do so

Maynard Jackson First African-American mayor of Atlanta; 1st African-American mayor of a major Southern city; served from 1974-1982 Worked to increase economic opportunities for all Atlantans Expanded MARTA and Hartsfield International Airport Helped secure Atlanta’s selection as host city for the 1996 Summer Olympics Died in 2003; Airport renamed Hartsfield-Jackson after his death

Maynard Jackson

Lester Maddox Georgia governor from 1967-1971 Outspoken opponent of forced integration Urged white parents to put their children into private schools rather than force them to go to integrated schools Fought federal efforts to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 Ironically, appointed more blacks to state-level positions on boards than any other governor and supported programs to help the poor, no matter what race

Andrew Young Pastored a church in Thomasville early in his career Joined the SCLC to lead voter registration drives and became one of MLK’s top aides Was with MLK at his assassination Elected to Congress in 1972, becoming 1st black Congressman from GA since Reconstruction Served as U.N. ambassador during Jimmy Carter’s presidency Atlanta mayor from 1982-1990, succeeding Maynard Jackson Also worked to get 1996 Olympics for Atlanta

Now a professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta