SS8H11 The student will evaluate the role of Georgia in the modern civil rightsmovement.
a. Describe major developments in civil rights and Georgia’s role during the1940s and 1950s; include the roles of Herman Talmadge, Benjamin Mays, the1946 governor’s race and the end of the white primary, Brown v. Board ofEducation, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 1956 state flag.
1940s-1950s
• During this period there was a lot of civil unrest. Blacks were tired of discrimination and many whites still believed in separation of the races. This separation led to protests and violence on both sides but with the most injustice being done to the black population.
• The country also experienced a “baby boom” due to all the servicemen returning from war.
• Many women chose to remain in the workplace rather than return home as before WWII.
• College and home ownership became a reality for many due to the passage of the G.I. Bill which helped returning servicemen get college $$ or low interest loans.
Herman Talmadge
• In a special election in 1948 and again in the regular election of 1950, Talmadge was elected Governor of Ga
• While in office he
– restructured the state highway department
– Created the Georgia Forestry Commission
– Improved the state conservation programs, prison systems, and county health programs
– Led the state in writing a new Constitution that changed school to grades 1-12.
– Helped to secure passage of the Minimum Foundation Program for Education Act which lengthened the school year to 9 months and raised standards for buildings, equipment, transportation, and curriculum
1946 Election for GA Gov.
• After Reconstruction, the Democratic party regained control of the South and began to run “White Primaries” These were party elections that chose candidates to run for office. They prohibited or made it extremely difficult for ANY black person to vote or obtain enough votes to run for office.
• After White primaries were outlawed, blacks were allowed to vote for the 1st time since reconstruction.
• In the 1946 elections for GA Gov, Ellis Arnall could not be re-elected since his term expired.Blacks helped gain the popular vote for Gov to James Carmichael who ran the Bell Aircraft Plant in Marietta during WWII. Arnall’s arch rival and segregationist Eugene Talmadge won the County Unit vote and won the primary to become the state’s democratic candidate. He was unopposed as there was no Republican Candidate.
1946 Election for GA Gov.
• Eugene Talmadge was 62 and in bad health so his buddies came up with a plan to keep control of Ga in case of his death.
• They got a bunch of their friends to “write in” Eugene’s son’s name, Herman Talmadge, in the blank for second choice for Gov.
• Eugene Talmadge won the election BUT DIED before taking office. Gov. Arnall declared that the Lieutenant Gov Melvin Thompson, should take over but the Ga legislature proclaimed Herman Talmadge Gov due to the # of write in votes that were conveniently “found” after Eugene’s death.
• Talmadge’s buddies secretly invaded the Capitol building and changed all the locks on the doors and when Arnall showed up the next morning, he could not get in.
• Finally, The GA Supreme Court ruled that the rightful Gov was Melvin Thompson, but agreed to hold a special election in 1948 to help resolve matters and in 1948 Herman Talmadge defeated Thompson.
Civil Rights
• The 1946 election just proved how committed some Georgians were to the idea of Segregation even though there was a growing movement for integration and equality.
• Brown v. Board of Education (1956)
– It overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that it was okay to have separate schools as long as all goods, services, transportation, and equipment were equal.
– It said that “ALL public school would desegregate with all deliberate speed.”
– While it ordered integration, it did not give “specific” timetables
– In Ga, there was strong resistance to integration and Gov Vandiver was re-elected partly on his promise to keep schools segregated.
• The Sibley Commission was founded to investigate the integration issue and found that many Georgians would rather close the schools than integrate
1956 flag
• In 1956, during the heated topic of integration, the Ga General Assembly voted to change the state flag from a vertical blue field on the left and two red horizontal stripes divided by one white stripe to a flag that incorporated the St. Andrews Cross which was the Confederate Battle Flag Emblem.
• Many believe the change was a protest to the Brown v. Board of Education Ruling on Segregation.
• Most Blacks found the change offensive and as a reminder of slavery.
• Some whites, such as the Daughters of the Confederacy, did not support the change either.
Martin Luther King Jr.
• 3rd Generation minister that grew up and lived in Atlanta
• In 1944, at 15 years old, he entered Morehouse University in Atlanta
• Ordained into the ministry in1947 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta while he was attending seminary at Crozer theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
• He believed in a Non-violent approach to social change based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Ghandi.
• He believed in a four prong approach to gain civil rights
– 1) direct, non-violent action
– 2)legal remedies
– 3) Ballots
– 4) Economic Boycotts
b. Analyze the role Georgia and prominent Georgians played in the Civil RightsMovement of the 1960s and 1970s; include such events as the founding of theStudent Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Sibley Commission, admission of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter to the University of Georgia, Albany Movement, March on Washington, Civil Rights Act, theelection of Maynard Jackson as mayor of Atlanta, and the role of Lester Maddox
Civil Rights Movement 1960s-70s
• As the Civil Rights issue heated up, more support came from the North.
• MLK organized sit-ins, lie-ins, boycotts, and protests often with the help of people (black and white) bussed in from the North
• MLK founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which worked for Civil Rights
• The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded in 1960 to publicize and organize sit-in demonstrations.
• The “March on Washington” for Jobs and Freedom took place on 8-28-1963. It was led by MLK and attended by 250,000 people. It was one of the first nationally televised events and was where King made his “I have a dream…” speech.
• Civil Rights Act – A series of act signed by the President that guaranteed the same civil rights to all U.S. citizens such as voting and access to public facilities
Albany Movement
• In 1955,the Supreme Court prohibited segregation in interstate bus abs and train terminals.
• In 1961, in Albany, Ga., Not only were the terminals still segregated but so were the schools and other facilities even though the towns population was 40% black.
• The NAACP and the SNCC decided to test the Albany policy of segregation. They entered the “whites only” waiting room and were quickly arrested. In December, “Freedom Riders” (people who supported integration and equality) came come from all over the North and South to “sit-it” the bus terminal. They were also arrested bringing National attention to Albany, Ga. The Next day SNCC organized a march of Black students to the same train station where the freedom riders were arrested. These students were arrested and jailed while the Nation watched.
• Such attention forced Albany to form a biracial committee to review its policies
School Integration
• In 1960, recognizing the coming change in social attitude toward integration and the influence of the Federal Gov’t, the GA General Assembly formed the Sibley commission to investigate public opinion of school integration.
• The commission found that by a 3-2 margin, Georgians would rather shut down the school system rather than integrate.
• The Supreme Court and Federal Gov’t did not back down.
• On 1-6-1961n Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes became the first black students at the University of Ga. despite many protests from students and faculty. Backing and overseeing their admission was Gov. Vandiver (who one time opposed integration) and state patrol officers.
• Hunter graduated and became a successful newspaper and TV reporter before returning to UGA to give the Commencement address in 1988.
• Holmes became a successful orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta.
Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement
• Atlanta was very resistant to change under the leadership of Talmadge and other governors but with Gov. Vandiver, even though he was a segregationist at first, integration was smoother in Ga than in other states.
• In large cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, Newark and Birmingham, there were huge race riots but in Atlanta things were smooth.
• Under the leadership of governors such as Hartsfield and Allen, Atlanta became and integrated city and was the role for the rest of Ga and other cities in the U.S. The Atlanta school system was the first LARGE school system to integrate. Gov Allen ordered all “Whites” and “Blacks” signs removed from the Courthouse. Movie theaters opened to Blacks and public restaurants began to accept Black patrons. City transportation allowed mixed traffic.
• In1969, Atlanta was praised by Time magazine as an “oasis of tolerance”
Lester Maddox
• Became Gov of Ga in 1967
• Surprised many people by appointing more blacks to state boards and commissions than all previous governors combined.
• Named the first black member to the Board of Pardons and Paroles
• Reformed state prisons
• Integrated the State Patrol
• Increased spending on teacher salaries and schools.
• Established a peoples day where twice a month people could visit the Gov mansion to discuss whatever they wish
Atlanta's Minority Leaders
• Atlanta began to show her diversity with the election of Sam Massell a Jewish mayor and the followed with the election of Maynard Jackson, Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, and Shirley Jackson, all Black Mayors.
• Maynard Jackson – sworn into office in 1974 becoming the youngest and first black mayor. He was known for giving neighborhood a voice in city politics, expanding the Airport, restructuring the fire and police dept. and helping to get the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
• Andrew Young –Worked alongside of MLK for Civil Rights and became mayor of Atlanta after Jackson. He was instrumental in getting the Olympics and went on to serve as an Ambassador fromt eh U.S.
c. Discuss the impact of Andrew Young on Georgia
Andrew Young
• Worked alongside of MLK for Civil Rights and became mayor of Atlanta after Jackson. He was instrumental in getting the Olympics and went on to serve as an Ambassador from the U.S.
• He brought world wide focus to Ga helping to stimulate international business trade with industries in GA
