Brown v. Board of Education
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregated schools to be unconstitutional. The Georgia General Assembly was opposed to this ruling and declared the decision did not apply to them. After the decision, the Assembly threatened to stop funding, and in some cases, allow the Governor to close, any school that desegregated.
In 1958, some Atlantans fought against the legislature’s segregationist stance and formed a group called “Help Our Public Education” (HOPE) to demand that the government not shut down any school. In turn, in 1960, the Sibley Commission recommended that Georgia allow counties to decide if they would integrate their schools, or not, without state interference.
In 1961, Atlanta was the first system to integrate its schools followed by Savannah, Athens, and Brunswick. However, it was not until 10 years later that all school systems in the state were desegregated. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, many white Georgians even went so far as to set up many private academies to continue segregation in the state.
In 1958, some Atlantans fought against the legislature’s segregationist stance and formed a group called “Help Our Public Education” (HOPE) to demand that the government not shut down any school. In turn, in 1960, the Sibley Commission recommended that Georgia allow counties to decide if they would integrate their schools, or not, without state interference.
In 1961, Atlanta was the first system to integrate its schools followed by Savannah, Athens, and Brunswick. However, it was not until 10 years later that all school systems in the state were desegregated. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, many white Georgians even went so far as to set up many private academies to continue segregation in the state.
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