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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USEffort renewed for portraits of civil rights leaders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several state lawmakers have revived efforts to hang a portrait of Coretta Scott King, next to one of her husband in Georgia’s State Capitol — plus portraits of five more civil rights leaders, including Rosa Parks.
But the chances of these measures passing the Legislature this year are uncertain. The director of the Capitol Museum says there is no room left in the building for additional portraits. And House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) said he has concerns about the measures.
Similar proposals died in the General Assembly last year after Richardson said he had “reluctance to hang very many photos” of people who are not elected and are not from Georgia in the state’s Capitol.
The House Special Rules Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on these ideas Friday at 9 a.m.
“I have been very disappointed at the lack of diversity in the showcasing of Georgia’s history,” said state Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, who is co-sponsoring the measures. “All you have to do is walk through the Capitol, walk the grounds of the Capitol, and it is quite evident that the true diversity of Georgia’s history is not being displayed.”
The state’s capitol art collection includes 296 portraits, plaques, statues and sculptures, some of which are in storage. Of the 93 portraits now on display in the Capitol, only five depict African-Americans, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said Dorothy Olson, director of the Georgia Capitol Museum and Capitol Tours.
Brooks, Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale) and several other lawmakers want to change that. They want to put up portraits of King’s late wife; Parks, Ralph David Abernathy, Hosea Williams, Joseph Lowery and Joseph Boone.
Parks is best known for defying segregated bus seating in Alabama in 1955.
Abernathy was one of Martin Luther King’s top lieutenants and the co-founder and former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Williams served in the House of Representatives from 1974 to 1983 and was the founder of “Hosea’s Feed the Hungry and Homeless” campaign. He was also a leader of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965, an event that helped secure passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Lowery co-founded the SCLC with King and has been a champion of election, criminal justice and government reforms.
Boone was a longtime minister and civil rights picketer.
The lawmakers also want the state to designate April 27 as Coretta Scott King Day.
Asked if the proposals would pass this year, Richardson said: “I wouldn’t say it is likely, but I say it is possible.”
“I have reservations about considering putting anyone’s portrait in the Capitol regardless of color, sex, national origin,” he said. “I think we ought to be slow and … deliberative about putting portraits in the Capitol. It is not to say that every one of those people is not worthy. But I suspect that there are hundreds of people, thousands of people that are worthy that have done great service to the state.”
“I do think that, as a general rule, it ought to be residents of Georgia that claim Georgia as home,” Richardson added about his criteria for which portraits should go in the Capitol, “and I do know that some of those people on that list are not Georgia residents. And this is the Georgia Capitol.”
Several people who are not from Georgia are honored in the portraits already on display in the Capitol, including Confederate General Robert E. Lee of Virginia and President Andrew Jackson, who was born in South Carolina.
The Georgia State NAACP called Richardson’s concerns “excuses” and “delay tactics.”
“Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King both gave a lot to America,” said Edward DuBose, president of the Georgia State NAACP. “We will stand behind any bill that stands to honor them and at the same time would challenge anyone who would have the audacity to vote something like that down.”
The Legislature created a panel last year to set standards for determining whether new artwork should go in the Capitol. But the members of the Capitol Arts Standards Commission have not yet been appointed, Olson said.
Under House Bill 88 and House Resolution 121, the portraits of Coretta Scott King and the other civil rights leaders would be hung on the second floor of the Capitol alongside Martin Luther King Jr.’s picture.
King’s portrait is near a corner of the building beside Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office, sandwiched between portraits of former Governors Roy Barnes and George Troup. There is no wall space left for additional portraits in the Capitol, Olson said. If the new portraits were to go up, she said, others would have to come down.
“Space,” Olson said, “is at a premium.”
Brooks said he is willing to compromise.
“We are open to some negotiation, if necessary,” Brooks said. “We think this is an adequate, viable proposal that deserves a fair hearing and consideration.”
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: politics
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Burdell
February 7, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
The issue seems pretty clear cut to me. Olson says that “If the new portraits were to go up, others would have to come down.”
Brooks wants to hang 6 more portraits. This means 6 others have to be removed. Which ones does he propose?
See the problem here?
By Lee
February 7, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Here we go again….only in Atlanta, GA
By steve
February 7, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Really… This is beyond the pale. Frankly i am shocked MLK’s picture is there, he was never elected to local or state office and i think we have more than enough tributes to him here in Georgia. I can promise you when we elect a black governor in Georgia, his picture will go up in the gold dome. I think Tyrone Brooks has more important things to worry about. How about the out of control teen pregnancy among blacks? How about the high percentage of young black men that are put in jail for crimes they commit right down the street from the Gold Dome? If they want to remove some pictures for room… i propose Jimmy Carter and Roy Barnes come down…. The democrats had control of the legislature for years… why didn’t Tyrone Brooks get his proposal pushed through when they were in power?
By Brad
February 7, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
I agree with Lee. When is our state going to deal with real problems and leave the race card behind?
By Leroy Tyrone
February 7, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Is that all you can come up with to represent you? Hosea Williams, a convicted felon who lost his right to even vote in this state. Coretta King, who was simply married to someone who happened to become a martyr for some people and couldn’t even remain faithful to her. Abernathy who’s name disgraced this whole state through his son Jr. another drug using convict who was thrown out of the House of Representatives. Come on! Not in my State Capitol! The only wall these people need to be on is the local crack house wall.
By Rick
February 7, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
Here’s one solution to the space problem: Start by removing the picture of R.E. Lee and then choose an additional 5 more out-of-state bigots to chunck out!
By Honorable
February 7, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
rick, I can say with a great deal of confidence that General Robert E. Lee had more honor, dignity and intelligence in one hair than you have or will ever be able to come up with in your entire existance. The intelligent people of this state are honored to have his portrait displayed and the rest - well, don’t really matter.
By Jim
February 7, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
The race card is the only card that tyrone brooks posesses.
By JRJ
February 7, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
It amazes me how some people want to totally disregard the many contributions that African-Americans have made in American society. The modern Civil Rights Movement changed this country for the better and we can’t show appreciation for some of the leaders of that movement for their effort. But we can honor evil men like Robert E. Lee. Why should Robert E. Lee have a potrait in the Georgia State Capitol? Anyone who took part in wars that resulted in the outright theft of land(Mexican-American War), and to preserve the enslavement of millions of people of African descent (Civil War), shouldn’t be honored anywhere in this country. Also those historical “figures” who condoned segregation should have their monuments removed too. People like Eugene Talmadge! Some Americans seem to have a pernicious case of amnesia when it comes to remembering the past.
By Reality
February 7, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Talk about amnesia. When you say changed this country for the better, are you talking about the fantastic crime rate that is now experienced in this country especially in inner cities. Are you talking about the wonderful welfare and public housing programs that have drained our pockets? Or, are you talking about the horrendous drug problem that has spread throughout this country? Yea, what strides we have made!
By Hero
February 7, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
Robert E Lee was one of the greatest men to ever live and he led the South and Georgia in the greatest struggle she has ever had to endure. If you have trouble understanding any of that - go read a history book. One of the few things that we have done right is to honor him. You may as well accept it, he is there to stay.
By atlpaddy
February 7, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
At least take down the portraits/statues of Tom Watson, Gene Talmadge and Lester Maddox. Those three race-baiting inbreds are an embarrassment to the state’s history.
By Dick
February 7, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
I don’t want these in my capital, or in tax paid buildings. If they hang these photos, I want one of the white people who also have helped the white people over come the racism both blacks and our elected officials have forced down our throats. They must be stopped. Had a guy n our town who wanted black museum as part of public courthouse, but when it was mentioned about statue of confederate soldier on courthouse lawn, guess who was first to yell racism, discrimination, So now the political correctness is “fairness”.
By Dick
February 7, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Is Tyrone Brooks the cousin or uncle to Jessie Jackson, they both yell and act the same. Neither one of them work, live off the general public.
By Amy
February 7, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
It amazes me that some people apparently never took history in school. Even though his army was eventually overwelmed and he was forced to surrender, General Lee is considered by experts to be one of the greatest leaders of all time. Even his enemies could’t say anything bad about him. Please don’t show your ignorance by putting him down now when you obviously have no idea what your talking about.
By Irksome
February 7, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Here’s a deal for Tyrone: We’ll put up the portraits when the FBI King files are made open to the public. Of course, that might require that some portraits now up come down… Particularly ones that were put up when the files were concealed from the public. Why haven’t the crusading journalists at the AJC filed a suit to open the files?
By atlpaddy
February 7, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
Hey Dick! What an appropriate name. Isn’t it ironic that those peckerwoods who profess to be for white racial superiority are the some of the most thick-browed, mouth-breathing ignoramouses to have ever dragged their fat-knuckled hands across the state of Georgia’s fine red clay?
Yeah, you race-baiters rail against affirmative-action for blacks, but whine and simper for region-based quotas at UGA for your kids because they’re not smart engough to get in.
As a wise man once said - quit crying about the splinter in your neighbor’s eye and worry about the pressure-treated 2x4 you got lodged in your own.
By steve
February 7, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
I agree with many of the comment above about the greatness of R.E. Lee. If anyone has not mentioned it… Lee owned no slaves at the time of the civil war. He fought for his state and not to keep anyone in bondage.
By R2D2
February 7, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
Until you admit you have a problem, you will never be able to come to the realization that you have to deal with the problem. Black, white or chartreuse, racism and bigotry in this country is, has been and will forever be in the eyes of God, WRONG!! And unless everyone who feels that they, their ancestors or even their daddys were honorable men and women for what they did, who they were or how they felt, at the expense of anyone else’s life or character, will lift their eyes up in hell right along with them!
Therefore, enjoy your portaits hanging on the walls, status sitting on the grounds and elitisms on the northern most parts of town now. Because this is the best it gets for you. This is your heaven! For those whom you choose to belittle, berate and walk upon, this is their hell now! Unless they themselves choose to belittle themselves to allow you to control their emotions and hate you as well!!
By Dick
February 7, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Coretta Scott King only did one thing, she could not keep her womanizing husband home, and he played the field while she raised the kids. I say pass law stopping road bieng named aftger people, buildings being named after people, and only photos to hang in tax paid and built buildings is Bettle Bailey.
By Rickster
February 7, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
And to think, this is the kind of mentality we fight to uphold in a senseless war to the people in Iraq!
By Charles Edwards
February 9, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
CeoBlackAmerica.com urge the Georgia Legislature to pass legislation to hang the portraits of Coretta Scott King and five other civil rights icons in the Georgia’s State Capitol.
It is a richly deserved honor and would speak well of Georgia’s commitment to diversity to people worldwide.
We also urge all Americans to celebrate April 27th each year as Coretta Scott King Day.