The Civil Rights Movement

Mrs. Eby

Slow Beginnings

Herman Talmadge Governor (1948-1951) After his father’s death, the General

Assembly selected him to replace his father

Resisted desegregation of schools Implemented GA’s first state sales tax▪ Money was used to improve public school

systems Served as U.S. Senator for four terms

Benjamin E. Mays

Distinguished African American minister, scholar, and activist

Presided over Morehouse College Emphasized

The inherent dignity of all Differences between ideals of America and

actual practices in American society MLK used his ideas to further the CRM

Brown v. Board of Education

In 1954, the US Supreme Court ruled that schools must be desegregated

This ruling helped launch the modern civil rights movement

1956 Georgia Flag

In 1955, John Sammons Bell (GA’s Democratic Party Leader) wanted to change the GA flag to incorporate the Confederate Flag

In 1956, the General Assembly voted to change the flag

People received this change as a statement against the Brown v. Board decision

This move was seen as a recognition of GA’s Civil War past.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Principal leader of the modern CRM He was a clergyman and advocate for non-

violent protest Attended Morehouse College Began career after the arrest of Rosa Parks African Americans boycotted the buses after Ms.

Park’s arrest Took risk to his own safety and that of his

family to progress Civil Rights for all

MLK continued MLK led and participated in marches

and protests calling for equal rights for all

Believed many problems were caused the economic inequalities in society

Killed by an assassin in Memphis, TN in 1968

January holiday commemorates his birthday

The Civil Rights Movement SNCC Sibley Commission Integration of UGA Albany Movement March on Washington Civil Rights Act of 1964

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Group grew out of the Southern

Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Encouraged young people (both black and white) to use peaceful protest to gain equal rights Sit-ins Freedom riders▪ Protested by riding on segregated buses

Sibley Commission

Gathered information about how people felt about desegregation

Founded by Governor Ernest Vandiver Report decreased resistance against

desegregation Local school boards created methods to

slow down the desegregation process Desegregation finally began in GA in the

late 1960s

African Americans enter UGA

Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes were the first blacks admitted to UGA in 1961

The Hunter-Holmes building at UGA is named after them, and it was the site of their registration

Albany Movement

The goal of this movement was to desegregate the Albany, Georgia region

The groups involved: SNCC Youth Council of the NAACP Baptist Ministerial Alliance Federation of Women’s Clubs Negro Voters League

March on Washington

Site of the famous “I Have a Dream” speech by MLK, Jr.

Five goals of march:1. Meaningful Civil Rights laws2. Massive federal works program3. Full and fair employment4. Decent housing, the right to vote5. Adequate integrated education

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Signed by Lyndon Johnson Three main provision:

Guaranteed equal voting rights Prohibited segregation in public places Banned segregation by trade unions,

schools, and employers involved in interstate commerce or business with the federal government

Lester Maddox

Became governor of GA in 1967 Because he was popular with

Georgians who favored segregation, many feared he would return widespread segregation to the state

Requested huge police presence at MLK, Jr.’s funeral which kept many blacks from attending

African Americans Take Office In 1973, Maynard Jackson was

elected the first African American mayor of Atlanta- the first in a major southern city

Jackson encouraged a number of Affirmative Action programs

Andrew Young

An aide to Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement

Served as an executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

First African American from Georgia to be elected to Congress since the 1860s.