Forsyth 1912

George “Ed” Merritt’s life encapsulates a journey from the racial violence of early 20th century Georgia to becoming a local civil rights champion in Buford. Born in 1913, after his family fled racial terror in Forsyth County, Merritt served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later became a community leader. His political career peaked when he was elected to the Buford School Board in 1973, reflecting the broader struggle for civil rights in Georgia. Merritt’s legacy, highlighted by his advocacy for voting and education, endures in Buford, where a street now bears his name.

Atlanta’s Historic Bagley Park, originally a Black neighborhood established in the 1870s, was demolished in the early 1950s to create a public park. Despite promises to maintain the Bagley Park name, it was renamed Frankie Allen Park in 1980, erasing the community’s history. Through efforts by Buckhead Heritage Society and Elon Butts Osby, the park’s name was recently restored to honor its origins and preserve the area’s rich history.

Discover the real story behind Lake Lanier’s dark history and ongoing racial tensions. Lake Lanier, a popular local attraction, has a dark history and ongoing racial tension. While the myth of flooding a predominantly Black town named Oscarville is untrue, the mass exodus of Black residents from Forsyth County did occur due to racial violence.

In 1912, more than 1,000 Black people fled racial violence in Forsyth County, GA. Researchers from Atlanta History Center used historical records to trace the locations and lives of these displaced residents, revealing significant changes in their economic status, occupations, and living arrangements as they settled in nearby counties and beyond.

In 1912, Five Black people were arrested for sexually assaulting and murdering a white woman in Forsyth County. One of the five was lynched and the others received unjust trials. These events led white residents of Forsyth to force more than 1,000 Black residents to leave the county, creating the environment for a county that retains a majority –white population.

36 years ago, more than 15,000 people marched through Forsyth County during the Brotherhood March. Coinciding with the newly created Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the 1987 demonstration made national headlines when it brought attention to one of the last surviving sundown counties in Georgia.

A 30-minute documentary film produced by Atlanta History Center that explores the history of the monument from all angles, including the origin of the carving, the complicated relationships between the carving and contemporaneous historical events, and the key players who worked for its completion. The film is meant to inspire deeper learning and constructive conversations about this monument and what it represents to many different people.

Drawn from the collections of Kenan Research Center, the photography in this exhibition reflects the rich stories of Atlanta’s historically black colleges and universities, the Civil Rights Movement, and those of African American educators, entertainers, and athletes.

Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See is a touring exhibition created in collaboration with the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, the Till Family, and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. It tells the story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and challenges visitors to make a ripple for justice in their own communities.