This summer, Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport have teamed up to enhance the civic fabric of greater Atlanta through impactful journalism.
Two interns are participating in this initiative, and Gabriella Hart shares her experiences from the first few weeks of her role.
Upon entering the project to research the concept known as ‘The Atlanta Way,’ Gabriella Hart entered with a foundational understanding of Atlanta as a significant civil rights hub, recognized as the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.
The term ‘The Atlanta Way,’ developed in the 1950s, refers to a collaborative framework established between Black and white political leaders and business owners aimed at fostering positive race relations.
Although Atlanta has made significant strides towards civil rights and social justice, Gabriella notes that it still has challenges to overcome.
Her research encompassed various eras, including the 1930s, the 1960s, and contemporary times. It featured crucial dialogues with influential figures, including Jill Savitt, the president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Maria Saporta, the founder and CEO of SaportaReport and Atlanta Way 2.0, and Britton Edwards, COO of Atlanta Way 2.0.
Gabriella highlights the pivotal role that the Atlanta University Center played in nurturing Black leaders throughout the city’s evolution.
Jill Savitt elucidates this point, stating that, due to the presence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Atlanta cultivated a community of professional Black leadership, mirroring the dynamics of the white leadership.
In this context, Atlanta emerged as a symbol of hope, demonstrating how Southern cities could navigate racial tensions.
Among the positive historical milestones, the completion of Techwood Homes in 1936 stands out.
Maria Saporta reveals that this landmark project was the first public housing initiative in the United States.
By the 1960s, Atlanta boasted 45 housing projects, claiming the highest number of public housing residents per capita, despite criticism regarding the concentration of poverty associated with such developments.
This led to the remodeling of almost all of Atlanta’s public housing into mixed-income communities, although poverty still looms as a pressing issue in the city.
An important aspect Gabriella examined was Georgia’s historical hesitance in implementing federal civil rights laws.
Delays in enforcement had profound implications for the state’s civil rights advancements.
In the 1930s, the philosophy of then-Governor Eugene Talmadge rejected ‘The New Deal,’ a series of federal initiatives intended to alleviate the Great Depression’s toll, primarily because he regarded them as socialistic.
This reluctance continued with Governor Herman Talmadge, especially following the landmark ruling of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which called for school desegregation.
Atlanta Public Schools did not begin its integration process until 1961.
In January of 1965, just months after King received the Nobel Peace Prize, notable Atlanta figures—Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., Benjamin E. Mays, Ralph McGill, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, and Archbishop Paul Hallinan—extended invitations to an appreciation dinner for King.
However, the response was lackluster until J. Paul Austin, then-president of Coca-Cola, vocalized his discomfort with the company’s location in a city refusing to honor its Nobel Prize recipient.
His remarks catalyzed a change, leading to the dinner selling out within hours, with over 1,500 attendees gathered to honor King.
This incident exemplifies how civic pressure from the business sector has historically driven change in Atlanta.
In correspondence with Vice Mayor Sam Massell following the dinner, King expressed heartfelt gratitude, emphasizing the event’s significance not just for him, but for the city itself as it reflected its progress in overcoming historical divisiveness.
Gabriella discusses how historical activism among Atlanta’s residents significantly contributed to the city’s transformations.
During the Great Depression, Black community organizations engaged in mutual aid efforts to assist their members.
When confronted with the threat of school closures rather than integration, an alliance of white parents and civic leaders took action, forming HOPE (Help Our Public Education) to advocate for peaceful school integration.
Even decades later, in 1971, Betty and John Sanford, an interracial couple, faced the denial of a marriage license in Georgia, despite the 1967 Supreme Court ruling in Loving v. Virginia.
Their persistence led to a successful petition to the U.S. Attorney General, ultimately receiving their license just twelve days later.
Jill Savitt reflects on ‘The Atlanta Way’ as a reminder to embrace history, stating its central ethos should inspire collaborative actions across communities to ensure that everyone thrives in the city.
Despite the collaborative spirit embodied by ‘The Atlanta Way,’ Gabriella noted how Black Atlantans faced severe impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, there are positive indicators of change; present-day leadership in Atlanta is notably more diverse, including women and people of color in city government roles.
This represents a significant departure from the 1960s, a time when civic power was largely held by a small group of predominantly white businessmen.
Atlanta Way 2.0 seeks to empower every voice to foster a healthier civic community across the region, transcending boundaries of age, race, gender, or geographic location.
As Gabriella continues to delve deeper into the concept of ‘The Atlanta Way,’ she expresses a renewed commitment to contribute toward making Atlanta a just city.
She reflects on the importance of drawing inspiration from its collaborative history while acknowledging the lessons from its past delays and experiences of exclusion.
She posed the question of how young individuals might influence change to Savitt, who emphasized the absence of a definitive guide, encouraging youth action through participation in meetings, connecting with likeminded individuals, and engaging with the narratives of those affected by policy decisions.
Transforming this narrative into ‘The New Atlanta Way’ may seem intimidating, yet it is a collective endeavor.
As Britton Edwards succinctly paraphrased, echoing Mayor Andre Dickens’ sentiments, “Atlanta is a group project; no single problem can be tackled by one individual or organization alone. Collective effort is essential.”
Gabriella Hart’s internship with Atlanta Way 2.0 and SaportaReport is more than an academic endeavor; it is a pathway towards forging inclusive urban planning and policy that support Equitable Growth, ensuring community voices are not only heard but recognized.
With a background in Sociology from Colorado College and currently pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Studies at Georgia State University, Gabriella aims to contribute to the dynamic future of Atlanta, understanding the complexities and intersections that shape urban environments for the communities that reside within them.
image source from：https://saportareport.com/lessons-from-the-past-and-present/columnists/atlantaway2-0/
