Democracy

In the decades between the end of Reconstruction and the beginning of Jim Crow, Black men in the South could still hold political positions and power. One such politician was Henry Allen Rucker, whose work as Collector of Internal Revenue helped to inspire his daughter’s work as an anti-segregation and voting rights activist. This article tells their story.

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.

Maynard Jackson made history 50 years ago as Atlanta’s first Black mayor, bringing transformative change at just 35. His passion for civil rights and economic fairness opened doors for minorities in city contracts. Jackson’s leadership helped create a more inclusive Atlanta, a legacy that lives on today.

The trial of Leo Frank began in Fulton County and was one of the longest trials in state history. Yet still, few know about the significance of Frank’s trial, the violence, antisemitism, and sensational press coverage. Fewer people know of his wife Lucille and her role in the defense and support of her husband throughout his trial, the appeals process, his imprisonment, and beyond.

“The Color Line: The Problem of the Centuries” explores the historic marginalization of Black Atlanta, fostering awareness and inspiring action for our community’s future.

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.

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.

The experiences of soldiers during wartime are frequently chronicled in newspapers, books, television, documentaries, movies and exhibits. What is less visible and often harder to uncover are the untold stories of the women and children who remain at home during a major war, and the loss, pain, and challenges they endure.

In September 1906, a white mob brutalized and terrorized Atlanta’s Black residents, resulting in the deaths of 25 Black Atlantans, the wounding of hundreds of Blacks, and the destruction of many Black businesses and homes. This period of racial violence has been passed down in history as a race “riot,” but “massacre” may be a more apt term.

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.

The Birth of a Nation’s success and wide distribution increased national interest in the post-Civil War Klan. In Atlanta, the film served as an inspiration and a guide for the leaders of two early 20th-century Atlanta organizations with close connections to Stone Mountain—the modern Ku Klux Klan and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

How did the world’s largest Confederate monument end up outside of Atlanta? What should be done, if anything, with it? With these questions in mind, Atlanta History Center explores the controversial history through online resources and an upcoming documentary.

“One Hundred Years of Georgia Women Legislators” is a Historical Series that will not only tell the story of Georgia’s first women state and federal legislative representatives and highlight other notable Georgia “firsts” that have held legislative positions over the course of the last century to now, but it also highlights the effect these women have had on Georgia, the South, and the United States of America.