Why do people think Atlanta has no history? (Decatur, Stone Mountain: neighborhoods, university)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by erick295

I guess it depends on how you define "history." Atlanta certainly has a history in the sense that it's existed for a century and change, but that's not enough to pique most people's interest. I assume what they mean is that it has no history they care about, which is a valid point... outside of the Olympics I can't think of anything significant happening here that wasn't also happening everywhere else at the time. It's always just been another cog in the machine... big, yes, but otherwise no different than the rest.

Not sure if I completely agree with that. I mean what can most people tell you about Savannah when it comes to history? It's obviously historic but it wasn't really known for anything significant in the national consciousness. The most some folks might be able to come up with is Sherman's March to the Sea, and even then, nothing really "happened" since the city was spared destruction. Atlanta's role in Sherman's campaign is actually more significant since it was torched.

I think the main issue here is that 1) Atlanta doesn't have a very extensive historic urban fabric relative to the size of the city/metro compared to that of a couple other sizable cities and 2) the most historic parts of Atlanta's urban core aren't the most active and don't attract the most tourists.

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Indeed. I wouldn't even use "wretched" to describe Birmingham, Memphis, Detroit or New Orleans -- all cities that have much uglier pasts than Atlanta for sure. And of course, Atlanta is heads and tails above all those cities.

Very true. I was going to say that perhaps Birmingham deserves the "wretched" description relative to its history, but even then, it has to be realized that although Birmingham is a young city having been founded after the Civil War, the Civil Rights era doesn't constitute the entirety of the city's history.

[demonta4]

I was born and raised in Atlanta, I know it's history. But everyone I meet says that Atlanta is all new and has no real history. They also say this about around Atlanta. I just want to know why people can't see Atlanta has history.

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by erick295

I guess it depends on how you define "history." Atlanta certainly has a history in the sense that it's existed for a century and change, but that's not enough to pique most people's interest. I assume what they mean is that it has no history they care about, which is a valid point... outside of the Olympics I can't think of anything significant happening here that wasn't also happening everywhere else at the time. It's always just been another cog in the machine... big, yes, but otherwise no different than the rest.

That's not true several significant events happen Atlanta.


1. The fall of Atlanta during the civil war was essential to the union winning. Regardless of size Atlanta was considered the Confederacy's second-most important city. Atlanta was home to second busiest mill in the south and was extreme logistic importance.

And Also Lincoln was up for re election in the middle of the war, while the war was unpopular. George B. McClellan ran as the peace candidate he would had ended the war by giving into the south demands. Lincoln won re election because of the fall of Atlanta.

United States presidential election, 1864 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia







2. Atlanta civil right history. Atlanta was basically the command center of the civil right Civil Rights Movement. A lot of the major civil right organization was headquartered in Atlanta which blue printed the marches and boycotts throughout the south.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Southern Regional Council - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

National Student Association - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atlanta Student Movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also Atlanta is the only US city that Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey the biggest civil right leaders of the turn of the 20 century associated with.

Booker T. Washington
Atlanta compromise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

W.E.B. Du Bois taught at Atlanta university his famous "The Souls of Black Folk" was written in Atlanta

Atlanta Conference of Negro Problems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

V. Of the Wings of Atalanta. Du Bois, W. E. B. 1903. The Souls of Black Folk

Du Bois’s “Litany of Atlanta”: Poetry as Rhetorical Agency


Marcus Garvey association with Atlanta is weird. He came originally to meet the klan. But later on he was imprisoned in Atlanta. And wrote his "First Message to the Negroes of the World From Atlanta" speech.

3. Atlanta is the cradle of the New South that gave birth to the ideal. People Acknowledge the industrial history of the midwestern cities but don't think "historic industrial" with Atlanta. Even though that what Atlanta history is. Atlanta was the dominant logistical and industrial city of the South.


Marietta Street Artery Association

By 1910 only New Orleans and Louisville were larger cities in the South. Both of which are old south cities. Atlanta again was leading and pushing the ideal of the new south.

[DaBurgh]

A lot of people are transients and just here for a job transfer or better climate, spend a few years and leave without asking or learning about it

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Still, even the bad stuff in Atlanta's history is pretty mild compared to many other sizable cities. I have a hard time using the word "wretched" to describe the overall theme of Atlanta's history.

Next Thursday celebrates the 150th Anniversary of being burned down and our railway being pulled up by Yankees. I would call that wretched by even the broadest definition.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by chiatldal

3. Atlanta is the cradle of the New South that gave birth to the ideal. People Acknowledge the industrial history of the midwestern cities but don't think "historic industrial" with Atlanta. Even though that what Atlanta history is. Atlanta was the dominant logistical and industrial city of the South.

That is huge, and probably shaped Atlanta more than any other single factor.

[ipaper]

how can you not think of Atlanta and the old south, Sherman march through and the burning of Atlanta, Margaret Mitchell house, Coca-Cola been around since 1886 , the king center, the state capitol building, just to name a few. i'm sure there are lots of history in and around atlanta .

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Still, even the bad stuff in Atlanta's history is pretty mild compared to many other sizable cities. I have a hard time using the word "wretched" to describe the overall theme of Atlanta's history.

I think you can say that as so much is wrapped up in slavery, the Confederacy, and segregation. It's not as bad as Germany confronting its past of Nazism but a similar uncomfortable problem. Even for the Olympics opening ceremony, they were struggling with how to present a montage of Georgia history tastefully but not sugarcoating it. Don't think so? Try flying the Confederate Stars and Bars. And didn't we discuss the removing of the carvings on Stone Mountain?

It's like we want to hit the history "reset button" for 1973 because it's like walking a minefield the further you go back. You really have to be careful about talking about anyone from long ago as s/he may have held unacceptable views by today's standards. Can't even quote a founding father's views because he might have held slaves. So much shame is attached to Atlanta's past that it's easier just to ignore it.

[Newsboy]

ALL places have history. To try and argue otherwise is just stupid.

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I think you can say that as so much is wrapped up in slavery, the Confederacy, and segregation. It's not as bad as Germany confronting its past of Nazism but a similar uncomfortable problem. Even for the Olympics opening ceremony, they were struggling with how to present a montage of Georgia history tastefully but not sugarcoating it. Don't think so? Try flying the Confederate Stars and Bars. And didn't we discuss the removing of the carvings on Stone Mountain?

It's like we want to hit the history "reset button" for 1973 because it's like walking a minefield the further you go back. You really have to be careful about talking about anyone from long ago as s/he may have held unacceptable views by today's standards. Can't even quote a founding father's views because he might have held slaves. So much shame is attached to Atlanta's past that it's easier just to ignore it.

This is all suggesting that slavery and segregation is everything to Atlanta and southern history. As if blacks and whites in the south did not do anything else but fight.

Let's forget the Music, food, art, literature, academics, culture, events, architecture, industry, and etc history among black and white southerners. As a black American it's insulting it's like saying blacks didn't do anything but be victims. No we shouldn't ignore southern or Atlanta history and it's not sugarcoating anything. A lot more happened in the South than just slavery and segregation.