This summer Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport are partnering on an initiative to strengthen the civic fabric of greater Atlanta through journalism. We have two amazing interns who will share their journey here in our weekly column. Here Gabriella Hart reflects on her first few weeks as an Atlanta Way 2.0 intern.
Upon beginning this project to research “The Atlanta Way,” I knew Atlanta as a renowned civil rights hub and the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. “The Atlanta Way” was a concept developed in the 1950s, referring to a structure of collaboration between Black and white political leaders and business owners to strengthen race relations.
Atlanta is a city that has come a long way in the realm of civil rights and social justice, but it still has a long way to go. My research spanned the 1930s, 1960s, and today. A key part of this included conversations with Jill Savitt, president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights; Maria Saporta, founder and CEO of SaportaReport and Atlanta Way 2.0; and Britton Edwards, COO of Atlanta Way 2.0.
Having had a vital role in the movement, the Atlanta University Center was key to shaping Black leaders.
“I think in that process [of Atlanta’s growth], because of the HBCUs and the way that Atlanta grew, there was a wealthier professional Black leadership group, and the same with the white leadership group, and they were able to see where they had mutuality of interests,” Jill Savitt said.
Atlanta was seen as a beacon of hope and an example of how cities in the South could work through tension.
A positive aspect of Atlanta’s history was the construction of Techwood Homes. Completed in 1936, Maria Saporta shared that it was the first public housing project in the United States. By the 1960s, Atlanta had 45 housing projects and the highest number of public housing residents per capita. While they provided housing, critics cited concerns about concentrated poverty. That led to the redevelopment of nearly all of Atlanta’s public housing communities into mixed-income neighborhoods. But poverty continues to be a significant issue in Atlanta.
Another factor I explored was the fact that Georgia historically lagged behind in enforcing federal laws that addressed civil rights. I learned how great of a historical impact this delayed enforcement had.
In the 1930s, Gov. Eugene Talmadge felt “The New Deal,” a series of federal programs aimed at mitigating the effects of the Great Depression, stemmed from socialism. He therefore refused to abide by programs aimed at helping outcomes for Black Americans. This ideology played out again with Gov. Herman Talmadge in response to Brown v. Board of Education, which passed in 1954. Atlanta Public Schools didn’t begin integration until 1961.
In January of 1965, months after King won the Nobel Peace Prize, Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., Benjamin E. Mays, Ralph McGill, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild and Archbishop Paul Hallinan sent invitations to a dinner honoring King to more than 100 of Atlanta’s most prominent citizens.
King’s celebratory dinner was met with a weak response until J. Paul Austin, then president of the Coca-Cola Co., said: “It’s embarrassing for Coca-Cola to be located in a city that refuses to honor its Nobel Prize winner… You all need to decide whether Atlanta needs the Coca-Cola Co.”
King’s dinner sold out within two hours, and over 1,500 people were in attendance. This is an example of how civic pressure from business leaders influenced change.
In a letter thanking Vice Mayor Sam Massell for the Nobel Peace Prize dinner, King wrote: “I must confess that few events have warmed my heart as did this occasion. It was a testimonial not only to me but to the greatness of the City of Atlanta, the South, the nation and its ability to rise above the conflict of former generations and really experience that beloved community where all differences are reconciled.”
Much of Atlanta’s progress came from residents pushing for change. Black organizations formed mutual aid networks during the Depression. When Gov. Ernest Vandiver threatened to close schools rather than integrate them, white parents and civic leaders formed HOPE (Help Our Public Education) to support peaceful integration.
In 1971, Betty and John Sanford, an interracial couple, were denied a marriage license despite the 1967 Loving v. Virginia ruling, again showing how Georgia resisted federal mandates. The Sanfords sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General and received a marriage license 12 days later.
“I see ‘The Atlanta Way’ as a real reminder, because it calls upon our history,” Jill Savitt said. “It’s how we bring that ethos of ‘it’s up to us,’ and we need to work together and build bridges across different communities to change who gets to thrive in our city.”
Despite “The Atlanta Way,” Black Atlantans were hit hardest by COVID-19.
Yet, there are positive changes. Leadership is more diverse today: women and people of color now have roles in city government — unlike the 1960s, when civic power was concentrated among a dozen predominantly white businessmen.
Atlanta Way 2.0 is an organization devoted to ensuring every voice is empowered to help build a stronger civic fabric in the Atlanta region, regardless of age, race, gender or geographic location.
As I learned more about “The Atlanta Way,” I felt more empowered to help make Atlanta a just city. We can draw inspiration from its collaborative spirit while learning from Atlanta’s history of delay and exclusion. I asked Savitt how young people like me can have an impact.
“There’s no manual,” Savitt said. “You go to a meeting, you find other people, you watch a documentary, you read a lot of articles about the thing you care about and you will find your tribe… meet the human beings who are impacted by decisions that get made.”
Creating “The New Atlanta Way” may seem daunting, but it’s not something we must do alone.
“Atlanta is a group project, and no one problem can be solved by just one person or organization. We all have to work together,” Britton Edwards said, paraphrasing current Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ key talking points.
Hello, my name is Gabriella Hart. I am a summer intern with Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport. I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in Urban Studies at Georgia State University.
Born and raised in Atlanta, I’ve always been curious about the forces shaping our city. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado College, My interests lie in city planning, infrastructure, equitable development and social justice.
This summer, I’m especially excited to explore the dynamic between old and new Atlanta, looking at how our city continues to grow and change and what that means for the communities that call it home. In the future, I would like to work in urban planning or policy, helping cities grow in ways that are inclusive, thoughtful and just.
Good Morning Atlanta 2.0…..In 1973, I was asked by the Vice Mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Holbrook Jackson, to serve as his Finance Chairman in the upcoming race for Mayor of the City of Atlanta with Herman J Russell….I resisted at first but my Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church encouraged me to accept this unpaid post. Herman and I signed a $285,000 note at Trust Company of GA and after a victory in November 1973, our note at TCG was paid off in Mr Woodruff’s Office by then Chairman of Coke, Paul Austin and 20 other city Leaders. We paid our “Civic Rent” and elected our first Black Mayor in Maynard H. Jackson. I served 15 months in Maynard’s first administration as Chair of the Community Relations Commission bringing Blacks & White together for breakfast at City Hall…Early Morning Coffee and Lemon Pound cake discussions and debate led to deep friendships and Atlanta Way as created and Atlanta did NOT burn again.
Tarby, Thank you for sharing this incredible personal story of our city’s history and your part in it!