Civil Rights

Visit Georgia and discover a state deeply rooted in African American heritage, culture and history. From the early coastal slave settlements to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Georgia is where many battles for equal rights began in America.

For millions of people around the world, one name is synonymous with the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Georgia is where you can experience his dream of equality, peace and prosperity for all, a dream that earned him the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

As you explore Atlanta’s The King Center, a living memorial to Dr. King’s legacy, you’ll be inspired by the words and peaceful actions of this great American hero. Take in the history of this memorial and experience the struggles, tragedies and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. The center is dedicated to the nonviolent pursuit of equality and justice, not only for African Americans, but for people everywhere who continue to live under the burden of racism, prejudice and bias.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site commemorates the area of Atlanta where Dr. King was born and raised. Tour Dr. King’s historic birth home. Visit the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King was baptized and later served as co-pastor. Known as the “Sweet Auburn” district, this neighborhood was the center of the city’s black community prior to desegregation and served as a focal point in the Civil Rights Movement.

As you continue to educate yourself on Georgia’s historic past, you’ll learn that many prominent African Americans who fought their way through the racial barriers hail from Georgia. Jackie Robinson was Major League Baseball’s first black player. Andrew Young was the first black U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Like Georgia, they represent a spirit and desire to overcome adversity and achieve the highest level of success.

Harriet Tubman is another Georgian who overcame adversity and fought for freedom. She escaped slavery yet traveled back to the South many times risking her own life to free other slaves. Uncover her remarkable story at the Tubman Historical and Cultural Museum in Macon, the largest African American museum in the state.

Another landmark is the First African Baptist Church of Savannah. Established in 1733, it’s the oldest independent black church in North America. Visit the current structure, erected in 1859 with stained glass windows of African American figures, and discover the beauty and history of this landmark.

When visiting South Georgia, be sure to take in the Thomasville Black Heritage Trail Tour. This venue honors Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper, a Thomasville native who, in 1877, became the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

As home to many of the movement’s early marches and non-violent demonstrations, Georgia continues to pursue the progressive thinking and leadership that these civil rights visionaries exemplified.

Georgia Civil Rights Travel Resources:
2005 Georgia African American E-Guide
The Soul of Georgia: An African-American Heritage Itinerary

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Related Sites:
Georgia Archives
The King Center
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
The Mount Zion Civil Rights Museum
Sweet Auburn
Jackie Robinson Website
Harriet Tubman Website
First African Baptist Church
Georgia Historical Society
New Georgia Encyclopedia
Thomasville Black Heritage Trail Tour