Atlanta was the first destination of my high school senior trip.  I also visited the city to attend a Blacks in Government Conference.

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the US state of Georgia.  It is the ninth largest metropolitan area in US, and was established in 1837.  It is now the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern US.  The Georgian culture is Scottish, African and Native Americans.  Atlanta is known for its African American culture.  Atlanta is home to African American heroes, legends and legacies.

Before desegregation African Americans created their own opportunities in business, publication and sports.  The Sweet Auburn Historic District is a one mile corridor that was the downtown of Atlanta’s African American owned very successful restaurants, hotels and nightclubs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.  The Atlanta Daily World is the oldest African American newspaper, and is still in circulation.  The Civil Rights movement began in Atlanta.  A new generation of leaders bridged the gap between the Civil Rights movement and the entrance to local and national polictics.  The Atlanta University students were at the heart of the movement in 1960.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. emerged as a natural leader with exceptional oratory, encouraging a non violent approach to social change.

Atlanta has long been the center of black wealth, political power and culture.  It is called a “black Mecca”, and home to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This cit has a well organized black upper class that has influenced politics, business, academia, religious and historical arenas.  The Black academic community is the largest of any US city.  In 1920 Hunter Street (now MLK Drive) and Collier Heights became the black elite neighborhood.

I toured the Atlanta University Center, the world’s largest consortium of Historical Black Colleges and Universities.  I toured the Georgia Aquarium, the nations’ largest aquarium with the world’s largest fish, the whale shark.

I toured the APEX (African American Panoramic Experience) Museum, located on the street once known as “The Richest Negro Street in the World.  This museum promotes cultural awareness and the social contributions of African American.  It is located in the historical Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta.   It is in a 107 year old building that was built by African American masons.  The museum tells the rich and often untold story of African and African American history and culture.   It wonderfully illustrated that African American history did not begin with slavery,  Africa is the richest continent in the world.  The exhibits cover:  The MAAFA (The African Holocust), Black Inventors, Sweet Auburn Revisited and African:  The Untold Story, and more.  It is a depiction of the Journey of Africa and the many contributions to the world made by men and women of color.

Atlanta is a great place to shop.  The restaurants have great food, with bars and live music.  It is also hot as HELL in the summer.