New South Hall of Fame

1. New South Hall of Fame

2. Georgia During the New South • The years between 1877 and 1918 were a time of both great social and economic successes and failures in Georgia’s history. • After the Civil War and Reconstruction period, Atlanta began its “rise from the ashes” and slowly became one of the more important cities in the South, proving it by hosting events such as the International Cotton Exposition. • Henry Grady, began to champion the cause of the “New South,” one that was industrial and self-sufficient. Entrepreneurs, both black and white, developed new services and products. • Unfortunately, the “New South Era” was also a time of terrible racism and injustice. Segregation and “Jim Crow” were the law of the land. The resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) after the murder of Mary Phagan targeted not only blacks, but Jews, Catholics, and immigrants as well.

3. The Bourbon Triumvirate • Was a group of 3 politicians who dominated Georgia politics for over 20 years. Key figures during the Civil War, rotated positions as governor and U.S. Senator from 1870-1890s. • They held common interest in developing the railroad and mining industries in Georgia serving the interest of old antebellum planter class. • The three men were all white supremacists who supported the convict lease system. • Joseph E. Brown • Alfred H. Colquitt • John B. Gordon

4. Henry Grady • Best known for his continual promotion of the “New South”. • He was managing editor of the Atlanta Journal and was able to use the newspaper as a stage to promote his views concerning industrialization of the South., the diversification of southern agriculture and to lobby northern investors to help aid financially in both causes. • Helped to bring the International Cotton Expositions to Atlanta and for the creation of Georgia Tech. • He was often attacked by Populist Tom Watson and Georgia’s Farmers for his industrial focus. • He was a dynamic writer and speaker has been identified as the most important figure in the New South movement.

5. International Cotton Exposition • In 1881, 1885, and 1895 Atlanta was the site of 3 international cotton Expositions. These expositions were similar to the World’s Fairs held during the same time period. • Cotton Expositions were established to promote Atlanta’s rebuilding from the Civil War , its industrial capabilities and accomplishments, and to lure northern investment into the city and region . • First two were promoted heavily by Henry Grady but the last one is the most memorable in 1895. • 1895 is where Booker T. Washington gave his famous Atlanta Compromise Speech. This speech urged African Americans to focus on economic improvement as opposed to political and social rights. (WEB Dubois opposed these thoughts) • Only 800,000 people attended the three month event and it suffered with financial struggles throughout

6. Booker T. Washington • Born a slave in Virginia- was an educator, author, orator, and political activist. • Washington promoted the idea that the best approach for African –Americans to gain a foothold in white society was through hard work, education and economic accomplishments before gaining full civil rights. • First African American to be invited to a formal dinner at the white House. • Best known for his Atlanta Compromise Speech which he presented at the international Cotton Exposition of 1895. • This speech brought his ideas of cooperation and the “going slow” approach to the forefront of the early civil rights movement.

7. W.E.B. DuBois • Often viewed as Washington’s opposition, DuBois supported many of Washington’s beliefs early in his career. • However, after the actions of southern states to prevent African American civil rights along with events such as the Atlanta Race Riot, DuBois was determined to fight for immediate social and political rights. • Received Master’s degree from Harvard • Dubois time in ATL during the New South period and later in the 1930’s and 1940s would shape his view about civil rights. A part of the NAACP.

8. Tom Watson and the Populists • Tom Watson was on of the most popular and most controversial figures in Georgia history. • Early career was based on supporting the poor tenant farmer and share cropper of both races. When elected to General Assembly in 1882 he supported the end to the convict lease system and was a supporter of public education for all people. Due to his discontent with the policies of the New South advocates he resigns from office. • Populist Party- platform of lower taxes for the poor farmer, and is sent to Congress. Passed the Rural Free Delivery Act were he gained support of many rural voters due to mail being able to be delivered to rural areas now. • In 1904 Watson began to change view towards race and by the end of his life was a fervent white supremacist. Targeting not only African Americans but also Catholics and Jews.

9. Jim Crow • The social and political gains made by African-Americans during the 1870s and 1880s began to be chipped away by white politicians in the 1890s. • Laws called Jim Crow Laws, named after a fictional black ministerial character, took away most of the citizenship rights of African-Americans. Under these laws most blacks could not vote or serve on juries, and were denied many of the other rights of US citizens. • After the Supreme Court decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson case, almost every aspect of life was segregated. • This included separate schools, sections of public transportation, water fountains, bathrooms, and even separate grave yards and Bibles used to swear on in courts. As civil rights activist Fred Gray said, “We were segregated from the cradle to the grave, the toilet to the train, the classroom to the courtroom.” • During this period, intermarriage between the races was strictly forbidden in the southern states and lynching was used in largely rural areas as a means to enforce the social order of segregation.

10. Disenfranchisement • Poll Taxes (1877): Taxes on voting. Most poor blacks and many poor whites could not pay this tax and were unable to vote. In some cases the poll was waived for poor whites. • The White Primary (1900): Due to the fact that the dominate party in the Georgia was the Democratic Party, most of the major decisions took place during the primary. The White Primary did not allow African-Americans to vote in the all-important primary elections. • Literacy Tests (1908): Used to prevent African-Americans from voting. Due to the substandard education in the South for both poor blacks and whites many Georgians could not read or write and could not pass these tests in order to vote. Some whites were “passed” by polling officials to allow them to vote, though others were not. However, many educated blacks were told that they still failed the test and were unable to vote. A famous folk tale is a Harvard educated man in Mississippi who was given the literacy test in English, German, and French and passed all three. Finally he was given a test in Mandarin Chinese, when asked “what does this say” the man said in disgust “It says you do not want me to vote.” • The Grandfather Clause (1890-1910): was used to allow some poor white citizens the opportunity to vote while continuing to deny the right to blacks. These laws usually said that if a person’s father was able to vote before the Civil War then they could too, without paying a poll tax or taking a literacy test. The law in some states said that if a person’s grandfather fought in the Civil War they could vote as well.

11. Plessy V. Ferguson “Separate but equal” • On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy was arrested in Louisiana for sitting in the “Whites Only” section of a railcar. In this planned protest, Plessy, who was 1/8th black and “could pass for white” identified himself as a black man. This orchestrated event was planned by the “Committee of Citizens,” a group of well educated African-Americans who wanted to test Louisiana’s segregation laws. • The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the court ruled in favor of Louisiana, based on the “separate but equal” doctrine. The court determined that under the Constitution (14th and 15th Amendments) blacks had political rights, but social rights were not required. According to the court, as long as facilities were equal for both races they could be separate. • Upon this ruling most southern states, including Georgia, separated all aspects of life. This included separate theaters and movie houses, rail and street cars, and separate bathrooms. Though separate, these facilities were most certainly not equal. For

12. 14th and 15th Amendments • The 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed citizenship rights to all African-Americans and voting rights to African-American men, were ratified by the U.S. Congress and included the votes of the Southern states. • However, during the Jim Crow era, most African American or Blacks in the South lost these voting rights. Due to the federal government’s lack of enforcement, southern states, including Georgia, established many laws that prevented Blacks, and poor whites for that matter, from voting.

13. 1906 Race Riot • Typically viewed as a progressive southern city with tolerant racial policies which allowed many successful African American social leaders to rise up. • One tragic event tarnishes this reputation which is the 1906 race riots and resulted in the death of at least 25 African Americans. • 48 hour riot on September 22-24, 1906 was a series of local newspaper articles alleging African American male attacks on white women. Articles proved to be untrue however, there were other deep seated causes of the riot. These included large number of unemployed and frustrated whites who viewed African Americans as threats to jobs and the established social order. • Mostly white unemployed men and boys gathered downtown seeking revenge for the false attacks and traveled into the black business district. Georgia militia was called into the city. • Riot caused unwanted negative national and international attention for the “jewel of the New South”

14. Alonzo Herndon’s • Rags to riches story. Moved to Atlanta and hired as a barber and soon became a partner in the business. Eventually opened three barber shops including one on 66 Peachtree street known for being the best barber shop in the South. “Crystal Palace” • Had gold fixtures and chandeliers in this barber shop and was the first choice of Atlanta’s white business and political leaders. • Founded Atlanta Mutual Life Insurance Company which offered insurance coverage to African Americans. Worth over 100 million dollars in todays term and is constantly ranked as one of the top black owned financial companies.