Discovering the AUC’s role in the Atlanta Way

This summer, Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport are partnering on an initiative to strengthen the civic fabric of greater Atlanta through journalism. Our two amazing interns will share their journey in our weekly column. Here, Asia Woodard reflects on her first few weeks as an Atlanta Way 2.0 intern. 

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “The Atlanta Way?” Truthfully, when I first heard the phrase, I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. Not being an Atlanta native, the name didn’t strike much familiarity in my mind.

Fortunately, these past few weeks have allowed me to research and broaden my knowledge of the term and context. My name is Asia Woodard, and I am a rising senior at Spelman College majoring in Comparative Women’s Studies with a focus on film and media, from Prince George’s County, Md.

This summer, I have been granted the opportunity to intern at Atlanta Way 2.0, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the civic fabric of Atlanta. Throughout this internship, I hope to improve my journalistic skills, make connections through networking, learn more about the city of Atlanta, and help to make it a better place. 

The Atlanta Way, in its original context, refers to how black and white business and political leaders in Atlanta cooperated to resolve issues from the 1960s to the early 2000s. During the civil rights movement, Atlanta was seen as one of the most peaceful cities in the South, as this city took on an approach to racial disparities with a grace that many other U.S. cities at the time failed to do.

Atlanta was not a perfect city by any means. Throughout Atlanta’s history, the city carried out positive and negative practices. For example, the original Atlanta Way was heavily male-dominated due to the period. And even though the Atlanta Way promoted racial cooperation, white civic leaders were still the majority and had the upper hand. 

As a student attending Spelman College, I’ve learned that the AUC, the Atlanta University Center, where my school is located, played a significant role in the civil rights movement. For starters, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. attended Morehouse College. Even after graduating, he continued to have an impactful presence within the community, including his involvement with his family’s church, Ebenezer Baptist Church.

The church’s first pastor, Rev. A.D. Williams, MLK’s grandfather, was committed to promoting black businesses and encouraging his church members to become homeowners.  Martin Luther King Jr. and his father were co-pastors and pastors of the church, respectively, and continued the church’s mission in uplifting black people in the community. The church is still active today, and remains a pillar in the community where its members can reflect on the astounding history the church holds. 

The students of the AUC have also impacted the community through political statements at many points, especially during the civil rights movement. In 1960, several students of the AUC formed what is now known as the Atlanta Student Movement. Students of Morehouse College were inspired by a political sit-in protest that students in Greensboro, North Carolina, had done a few months prior. They joined forces with the other institutions of the AUC, and their first sit-ins and other acts of protest were specifically against segregation. They committed the rest of their time engaged in acts that reflected the nonviolent ideals of MLK and Gandhi.

They were responsible for the desegregation of businesses that denied service to people based on the color of their skin. The students of the AUC continue to come together to fight against injustice within the community even today. This aspect of Atlanta’s history shows that collaboration and community are critical to making our city the best it can be, a tenet the Atlanta Way 2.0 organization hopes to continue through its work today. Walking through my campus feels like walking directly through the halls of history. Knowing that so many changemakers have stepped in the same places as I do every day gives me a sense of aspiration that my peers and I will be able to do the same. 

While the original Atlanta Way provided a lot of good to the city of Atlanta, it brought groups of people together and united communities; it also excluded a large percentage of people. Atlanta Way 2.0 is designed to change that. The nonprofit organization, co-founded by Maria Saporta and Britton Edwards, has a mission to strengthen the connections between business leaders, citizens of Atlanta, and the region overall. Unlike its preceding concept, this organization is targeted toward people of all genders, all races, ages, and classes. 

Last week, along with my fellow Atlanta Way 2.0 intern, we had the opportunity to interview Jill Savitt, the CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. In our conversation, Savitt discussed her background, her career, and how she fell in love with the city of Atlanta. Savitt discussed the original Atlanta Way and said it was formed because of how HBCUs and black and white leadership were involved.

Even though these collaborations were very progressive for their time, there were still certain groups of people who were excluded regarding class and education, people who are still excluded today due to racist policies enacted in the city historically. She stated that Atlanta Way 2.0 is a way to “revive that old spirit that exists in Atlanta of people coming together, but [making] it more inclusive…” Hearing this was inspiring, and it gives me hope for Atlanta’s future because more people will have a seat at the table. 

This internship has already allowed me into spaces I may not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. I am honored to be working with Atlanta Way 2.0 and continuing its mission of uniting the citizens of Atlanta and strengthening its civic fabric. I’m excited to see what the future has in store for this organization and to be a part of its team.

We asked Savitt what advice she would give young people in our position, and she said that the number one thing young people should strive to do is to meet as many people as possible because we never know who could play a part in our futures. Within these first few weeks of this internship, I’ve already met many new people in interesting fields and positions. I know that throughout this summer, I will make many connections that may change my life, and I’m excited to work with this organization and continue its mission.

Images below credit: Kelly Jordan

About the author:

My name is Asia Nicole Woodard. I’m a senior at Spelman College, majoring in Comparative Women’s Studies with a focus on Film and Media, from Prince George’s County, Maryland. This summer, I’m interning with Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport. Throughout this internship, I hope to refine my journalistic skills, make connections through networking, and aid in Atlanta Way 2.0’s mission of strengthening the civic fabric of Greater Atlanta. My passion for storytelling started from a young age and has only grown with time. My goal for the future is to highlight stories centered around women and minorities and provide accurate representation through different forms of media.