African American Heritage Sites

African American heritage, culture and history emanates from the state of Georgia. Georgia has been the battleground for the advancement of African American equal rights. The person most responsible for the peaceful advancement of these rights, of course, was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Georgia was Dr. King’s home. You can experience his dreams and vision for a land where people would “not be judged by the color of their skin” – a land of equality, peace and prosperity for all. Explore Atlanta’s The King Center, a living memorial to Dr. King’s legacy. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site commemorates the area of Atlanta where Dr. King was born and raised. You can visit Dr. King’s birth home and the famous Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King served as pastor. This neighborhood is known as the Sweet Auburn district, which is a center for African American shops and culture.

Georgia is also the home of other prominent African American civil rights heroes, such as Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player, and Andrew Young, the first black U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who risked her freedom and life to help other slaves escape the tyranny of slavery. Learn of her courageous story at the Tubman Historical and Cultural Museum in Macon, the largest African American museum in the state. Macon is also the home of two other world-class museums. If you are a music lover, be sure to visit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon where you can celebrate legends like Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Lena Horne and Ray Charles. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame honors Georgia sports legends like Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Herschel Walker, and Evander Holyfield.



Below are other websites for specific African American destinations that might be of interest:

The King Center

Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory
The Albany Civil Rights Institute/a>
Sweet Auburn
Jackie Robinson Website
Harriet Tubman Website

First African Baptist Church
Ebenezer Baptist Church

Atlanta University Center
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum