African American Higher Education in Georgia
The first day of the symposium will focus on the topic of African American higher education in Georgia, with a special emphasis on the desegregation of public colleges and universities. The speakers will share their insights and experiences on the challenges and achievements of African American students, faculty, and administrators in the state’s higher education system.
Some of the speakers include:
- Christina Lenore Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Savannah State University, who will present “Still Rising: The Legacy and Future of Savannah State University”, a historical overview of the oldest public historically black college and university (HBCU) in Georgia and its role in advancing African American education and leadership.
- Arthur Dunning, Retired President of Albany State University and author of Unreconciled: Race, History, and Higher Education in the Deep South, who will present “Reconciliation: Is It Possible?”, a personal account of his involvement in the controversial consolidation of an historically black college campus and an historically white college campus in Albany, GA in 2016.
- Maurice C. Daniels, Ph.D., Dean Emeritus and Professor at the University of Georgia School of Social Work and Director of the Foot Soldier Project for Civil Rights Studies, who will present “Desegregating Higher Education in Georgia: The Pioneering Role of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter”, a tribute to the first two African American students to enroll at the University of Georgia in 1961 and their impact on the civil rights movement and social justice.
African American History in Georgia
The second day of the symposium will focus on the topic of African American history in Georgia, with a broad range of topics covering different periods and aspects of the state’s history. The speakers will highlight the contributions and struggles of African Americans in Georgia’s political, social, cultural, and economic development.
Some of the speakers include:
- Velma Maia Fann, award-winning author and historian, who will present “The Black Mecca: Atlanta’s Role in the African American Renaissance”, a cultural history of Atlanta as a center of black excellence, creativity, and activism from the late 19th century to the present day.
- Michael Thurmond, DeKalb County CEO and author of Freedom: Georgia’s Antislavery Heritage, 1733-1865, who will present “Freedom’s Price: The Cost of Emancipation in Georgia”, a historical analysis of the economic and social consequences of slavery and emancipation for both blacks and whites in Georgia.
- Robert Pratt, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of History at the University of Georgia and author of Selma’s Bloody Sunday: Protest, Voting Rights, and the Struggle for Racial Equality, who will present “From Selma to Atlanta: The Voting Rights Movement in Georgia”, a historical overview of the grassroots efforts and legal battles to secure and protect the voting rights of African Americans in Georgia from the 1960s to the present day.
African American Genealogy in Georgia
The third and final day of the symposium will focus on the topic of African American genealogy in Georgia, with a series of presentations divided into two tracks: beginner and intermediate/advanced. The presentations will provide practical tips and resources for tracing and documenting the family histories of African Americans in Georgia, as well as exploring the historical and cultural contexts of their ancestors.
Some of the presentations include:
- Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D., Past President of the African American Genealogical Society of Cleveland and Board Trustee of the Ohio Genealogical Society, who will present “Using the Census to Track Your Ancestors”, a beginner-level presentation on how to use the federal and state census records to find and follow your ancestors from 1790 to 1940.
- Meldon J. Hollis, Jr., Esq., President of the AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter and Board Member of the Georgia Genealogical Society, who will present “Using Probate Records to Research Your Ancestors”, an intermediate/advanced-level presentation on how to use wills, inventories, estate sales, and other probate records to identify and connect your ancestors who were enslaved or free persons of color.
- Ari Wilkins, Genealogist and Library Associate at the Dallas Public Library and Board Member of the Texas State Genealogical Society, who will present “Reconstructing Communities Using Sanborn Maps, Census Records, and City Directories”, an intermediate/advanced-level presentation on how to use these sources to reconstruct the neighborhoods and communities where your ancestors lived and worked.
In addition to the presentations, the symposium will also offer a tour of the Georgia Archives, including a behind-the-scenes look at the archives and its holdings, and an exhibit titled “Treasures from the Vaults: African American History in Georgia”, which will showcase some of the rare and valuable documents and artifacts related to African American history in Georgia from the archives’ collections. The exhibit will be open for viewing until March 18.
The African American Symposium 2024 is sponsored in large part by a grant from the Clayton County Tourism Authority. The Georgia Archives is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting research, study, and preservation of African American genealogy and history.
