The Black Urban Experience; Atlanta

Atlanta was once called Terminus in its early days because it was the last stop on the Western Atlantic rail line. After the discovery of gold, plantations of rice and tobacco made up Terminus's economy. Enslaved Africans were brought to Atlanta through the rail line from port cities like Savanah and Charleston. Terminus was a key location for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Terminus station is where they received imported supplies. General William Tecumseh Sherman recognized Atlanta as "Gate city to the South". During Shermans March to the Sea in 1864, Terminus was brunt to the ground and the phase after that was known as the Reconstruction phase.

The Atlanta University Center is the largest association of Black Educational Institutes, organized in 1929. The first of the three founding schools was Atlanta University (1867), Morehouse College (1867), and Spelman College (1881). I will focus on Dr. Martin Luther Kings school, Morehouse College. Founded during the reconstruction phase of Atlanta, the institution was opened to train former slaves to be protestant ministers or educators. By the 1940's Morehouse College started gaining recognition for their community leadership. This is partly due to the then president, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, hiring faculty with doctoral degrees.

By the 17th century, the British American market consisted of staple crops. These markets were stimulated by the labor of enslaved Africans. They are imported to Atlanta from cities like Savannah and Charleston. By the beginning of the American Civil War, Atlantas population is approximately 50% black. After the CivilWar, there was a 19% increase in the black population. Anglo whites saw this urbanization of African Americans as a threat. Southern States responded to the growing black enterprises by creating legal policies of segregation. By introducing Jim Crow Laws, black businesses where segregated to conduct their business in a certain area, further disenfranchising the black community. Anglo whites in Atlanta responded to the growing black enterprise by gathering a mob and attacking African Americans in Downtown Atlanta. With the medias influence, the incident was perceived as a black male problem harassing white women near saloons.

This legal form of segregation back then also prompted the rise of prominent black financial districts like "Sweet Auburn"

Dobbs was born in 1882 and impoverished. He moved to Savannah with his mother when she got a job working for a wealthy white family. When Dobbs turned 15, he moved to Atlanta and attended Morehouse College. Dobbs was not able to finish his degree as his mother went severely ill and he had to go back home to watch for his mother. This did not stop Dobbs from independently educating himself by reading. In 1911, Dobbs was initiated into the Prince Mason Hall, which is a fraternal organization that attracts socially conscious black leaders. Dobbs coins the term "Sweet Auburn" because of the centrality of the street to the black community, its thriving business and active civic life. On August 30th, 1961, Dobbs passes away, the same day Atlanta schools are desegregated. John Dobbs was commemorated one other time in 1994 when his grandson and first black mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, changed Houston St. to John Wesley Dobbs st.

The 1906 Race Riot in Atlanta prompted the black business community to relocated South of Downtown which was closer to the Atlanta University Center, where they felt safer. Sweet Auburn came to prominence in early 20th century. This concentration of black businesses had immense success and labeled as a black mecca for businesses. Prominent business were the Atlanta Daily World, the first black owned newspaper. Atlanta Life Company founded in 1905, was the first life insurance company founded by Alonzo Herndon, a former slave. Another cultural venue in Sweet Auburn was the Royal Peacock. The Royal Peacock opened in 1937 as The Top Hat, and later changed their name under new management. The Royal Peacock continues to serve as a music club, and in its golden days featured some of the most influential black musicians like James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Little Richard, Louis Armstrong, and Aretha Franklin. Sweet Auburn started to see its decline in the 50's as more African Americans attained more wealth and moved away elsewhere. The introduction of the Interstate Highway Act also dismantled and split the Auburn community in half. Sweet Auburn also fell victim to widespread crime, homelessness and lack of investment.

Through this nexus of educational institutions within the ACU and the financial backing of black business in Sweet Auburn, emerged an upper class of black Americans. This close circle of upper class African Americans distinguish themselves from "New black money" dating back to the days of or before Sweet Auburn. Along with the Brown v. Board of Education verdict, Atlanta became a hotspot for civic social justice. A prominent figure that emerged from this environment is Dr. Martin Luther King, born on Auburn Avenue and a graduate of Morehouse College. Sweet Auburn no longer is a bustling civic hotspot as it was, rather serves a more historical significance. Atlanta continues to be a mecca with 54% of the population black. And since 1973, Atlanta has elected only black mayors.

Jackson was the first black mayor of a major souther city, Atlanta in 1973. Jacksons affirmative action policies instilled during his first two terms bore fruit and increased the amount of business minority firms receive from the city. Maynard Jackson is son of Irene Dobbs, who was daughter of John Wesley Dobbs. Jackson attended Morehouse College through the special early entry program, but attained his law degree from North Carolina Central University.

Young first arrived in Georgia as a pastorate of the Bethan Congressional Church in Thomasville. While in Georgia, Young immersed himself with the civil rights movement that was taking place. He managed to work his way up the Souther Christian Church, led by Dr. Martin Luther king and be his aide in 1961. Young played pivotal roles in desegregation campaigns in southern cities like Albany, Washington D.C. and Alabama. In 1972, Young becomes the first of two black congressmen from Georgia to serve in a presidential cabinet. While in congress, Young helped the Carter Administration reform American foreign policies to be more centrally focused on human rights. When Young returned to Atlanta, it marked the revolution of black political power.