What was Georgia’s role in the modern Civil Rights Movement? (SS8H11a &b)
Event/Group
End of the white
primary
Brown vs. Board of
Education
Date
1946
Description
A practice started in 1900 that did not allow blacks to
vote in primary elections. B/C most candidates were
Democrats, it meant that elections were basically
decided during the primary.
Impact on Georgia/U.S.
Blacks were able to vote in
primaries and make a
difference in elections.
1954
Court case that started in 1950 when Linda Brown tried
to enroll in an all-white school in Topeka, KS. NAACP
helped her father file the court case to sue Topeka
school board. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that
separate-but-equal schools were unconstitutional
In Georgia, most schools
refused to desegregate.
General Assembly voted to cut
off funds to schools that did
integrate.
1956
Adopted state flag with Confederate battle emblem,
Pro-flag - claimed it was in preparation for the 100th
anniversary observance of Civil War.
Anti-flag – Saw it as a protest against the Brown vs.
Board of Education ruling against segregation
Gave GA a negative image until
1970s and 1980s;
Led to vote by citizens that
adopted current state flag in
2003
An organization of students that worked with the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to
end segregation. Staged sit-ins at department store
lunch counters throughout the south.
Had disagreements eventually with SCLC over methods
that were being used for protests.
A 14-member commission set up to study the issue of
school segregation in Georgia. Held public hearings and
made recommendations to let local school districts
decide on integration. Districts could either abide by
impending court order or close
Organized in Atlanta; Got
students more involved in civil
rights movement by organizing
freedom rides and beginning
the Albany movement
Adoption of the 1956
state flag
Student Non-Violent
Coordinating
Committee
1960
Sibley Commission
1960
Many private schools opened.;
Atlanta public schools worked
to remain open
Event/Group
Albany Movement
Date
1961
March on Washington
1963
Civil Rights Act
1964
Description
Started in 1961 when activists sat in white-only waiting
room and bus station and were arrested. Freedom
Riders were arrested at train station and high school
students were also arrested. City would not budge and
protests continued for a year. MLK was arrested.
250,000 citizens of all races marched in the nation’s
capital to demonstrate support for the civil rights
movement.
Impact on Georgia/U.S.
National coverage of arrests;
biracial committee set up to
study integration in Albany;
Albany not desegregated but
activists developed strategies
Federal civil rights legislation
was passed the next year
Prohibited racial discrimination in employment, labor
unions and public facilities. Also allowed the
government to withhold federal funds from school
systems refusing to desegregate
Opened public facilities to all
people; Penalized companies
and states not operating fairly
in areas of housing, public
access and employment