Fish Tank

By Jeff

November 10, 2005 08:05 AM | Link to this

While Atlanta has spent the last 30 years tying to hide from and erase its links to the Confederacy and the Civil War, I see where Coca Cola wants to honor its inventor who also happened to be a (hold your breath) - Confederate veteran !

Thank you Coca Cola for showing the guts to honor this great Georgian and American, whose creation and influence is sampled millions of to times a day all througout the world.

By Sam

November 10, 2005 08:09 AM | Link to this

Dr. Pemberton deserves a statue in Atlanta. Asa Candler gets all the credit for the marketing of Pemberton’s invention.

Where would Atlanta be today without Coca Cola?

A long, overdue honor.

By bob

November 10, 2005 08:14 AM | Link to this

I don’t think this has anything to do with giving honor or celebration of Pemberton’s afiliation with the Confederacy. It is more of a Coke issue. Feeble minds twist things.

By Jeff

November 10, 2005 08:20 AM | Link to this

Bob,

Give it time. Derek Boazman, Tim McDonald, the King Center and the multitude of other feeble minds in this town will be all over this. I predict the honor to Dr. Pemberton doesn’t happen due to poliical correctness, the religion of Atlanta.

By Monika

November 10, 2005 08:32 AM | Link to this

In May 1862, Pemberton enlisted as a first lieutenant in the Confederate Army, and he organized Pemberton’s Calvary to guard the town. In Pemberton’s last battle he was shot and cut with a saber across the chest. XXXXXXX Such is the commercial legacy of a onetime Confederate lieutenant colonel who earned his medical degree at the age of nineteen, who served on the first Georgia pharmacy licensing board, who set up a top-rated laboratory for chemical analysis and manufacturing, and who, in his dozen-and-a-half years in Atlanta, established eighteen business ventures—including one, the Coca-Cola Co., which now can boast 1995 sales in excess of $15 billion.

http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/coca_cola.htm

By Nancy

November 10, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

YOU are the feeble mind here making a big deal out of his Confederate heritage, and now thanks to you, everyone else here knows it too.

By Mombulu

November 10, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this

Now that Pemberton’s past has been made known to me, it is blatantly obvious this (…)should not be honored! The Confederacy was racist and all who served in its ranks were traitors who should have been hanged after the war. Like the other (… ) physician from Georgia, Crawford Long, Pemberton probably experimented his concoction on his unsuspecting guinea pigs, his slaves, before using it on caucasions.

By Billy Bearden

November 10, 2005 08:57 AM | Link to this

I am all for Pembeton Place! What a great idea! The only other time the poor man was honored was back in 1986 on the side of a Coke bottle. But, alas, it shant come to pass, for the ever vigilant keepers of the politically correct-hate-everything-not-black flame in Atlanta will of course nix it, due to his Confederate service. While Pemberton did all that was mentioned in the post by Monika, former Ga Gov Joseph Brown did far more and far greater things for people of all races here in Georgia, but only because he was the sitting Gov at the outbreak of the war was he not given the honor in Cherokee County with a high school named after him. Ironically the feeble minds named the school after the local Indian tribe, who themselves held rather large amounts of slaves and fought for the Confederacy - but at least they didn’t have to suffer “Brown High”!

By bubba

November 10, 2005 09:07 AM | Link to this

Jeff, get over it. The south lost the war. I am a minority, and I don’t really care about his affilation with the confederacy. He was a pharmacist, and probably aided blacks like many whites did but were afraid of bigots like yourself to say it publically. Thus Coca Cola honoring his is a honor long overdue.

By Kwanzella

November 10, 2005 09:27 AM | Link to this

As an African-American educator, I am stunned a progressive city like Atlanta would choose to honor a racist and war criminal like Pemberton, who fought to keep my people in the cotton fields.

I will be writing Cynthia Tucker of the AJC, and contacting Cynthia McKinney’s office about this. I would like to see a boycott of Coca Cola and its products, until they think things through a little more clearly.

By Jeff

November 10, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this

Nancy,

Take a look at the recent comments.

And I’m feeble minded?

Call me a realist!

Jeff

By Chauncey

November 10, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe people are not willing to honor someone just because of the fact that he fought for the Confederacy. While slavery was a gigantic negative mark on the south, not everyone who fought for the Confederacy fought specifically to keep the institution of slavery around. Many felt their homeland was being invaded. They were not going to stand idly by while someone from far away came through and burned their homes, farms and towns to the ground. Pemberton is originally from Columbus, GA. He is honored there just as he should be honored in Atlanta.

By Ken Waters

November 10, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this

Kwanzella writes that she would like to see a Boycott of Coke products. Kwanzella must be thinking like a modern day Southern Confedrate who also want to see a boycott of coke products.

Boycottcoke.org

KW

By Chris

November 10, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this

Kwanzella,

Its disappointing you take such a closed-minded stance on this. Being a minority myself, I have no problem with Pemberton Place. He is being honored for his invention which has defined Atlanta. In a city that has long struggled to find an identity and has run from its past, I applaud this as a step in the right direction.

Your stance is what’s wrong with some people in this town. You are taking his invention and politicizing it. Coke is not going to build a statue of Pemberton and hang a confederate flag on it?! They’re recognizing the man for creating one the most recognizable images in the cities history.

Yes, the civil war era was a sad and horrific time in Americas past and anyone who thinks different should visit the King museum and see the images to prove it. But please don’t turn this into a racial issue. That would be missing the point.

By Ramon

November 10, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

Slavery was initially legalizd in North America not in The South, but Massachusetts ! Yes, slavery ended in the South with the military defeat of the Confederacy in 1865, but its roots are found all throughout the original 13 colonies, from Maine to Georgia. Dr. Pemberton is well deserving of this honor.

By Charlie

November 10, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this

Dr. Pemberton legacy doesn’t need this hassle in Atlanta. He has already been honored in Columbus, the REAL birthplace of Coca-Cola.

The good doctor’s home and laboratory are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Anytime you wish to see the origins of the soft-drink, come on down.

By Kwami

November 10, 2005 10:22 AM | Link to this

Spending years trying to change the state flag and getting streets named after Confederates renamed, now I hear the latest attempt to honor a man that fought to keep my people enslaved and subserviant to mighty whitey.

Anyone remotely connected to slavery, whether it be breeders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Dr. Pemberton, should not be honored for their roles. Dr. King should be on the quarter & dollar bill instead of Washington.

By David

November 10, 2005 10:42 AM | Link to this

KWAMI……….

Don’t forget to take President & General Ulysses S. Grant’s picture off the 50 dollar bill as he was a slave owner also.

By Kwami

November 10, 2005 11:03 AM | Link to this

If its white, it ain’t right !

Too many caucasions on the coinage & currency. Money needs a little color added to it.

By Bryan

November 10, 2005 11:09 AM | Link to this

Coca-Cola has done the right thing in honoring its inventor. Also, we cannot apply today’s worldview to the past. I remember a time when Atlanta was known as the home of Gone With The Wind, the Cyclorama, and the Confederate Memorial at Stone Mountain. Now it is the A-T-L, where “the playas play”. Oh Kwami, in the words of the celebrated Atlanta projects, “Don’t you be hatin’ on my past, biotch!

By CEL

November 10, 2005 11:15 AM | Link to this

As an African American female, I find this bolg absolutely ridiculous.

Dr. Pemberton is being honored for creating a product that has and will continue to boost Atlanta’s economy. If we are going as far as boycotting Coke and calling on our representatives, do you suggest those minorities who work for the company go to the extreme of quitting their jobs? I guess it’s safe to assume that you think these men and women are sell outs since they work for a company/they endorse a product that was invented by someone who was a part of the Confederacy. I received an e-mail a few weeks ago telling me to boycott PepsiCo products because they ended their endorsement agreement with Kanye West because of what he said about President Bush and Hurricane Katrina victims.

I mean dang, what the heck am I suppose to drink, SHASTA?

I think this is a waste of time and energy. Let’s get passionate about those things that really matter. We have young people dying. Be a mentor, be a positive example.

By Jim

November 10, 2005 11:16 AM | Link to this

Before “Kwami” or “Kwanzella” or “Mombulu” starts a flame war over this issue, I would submit that they are not even real. I bet they are all the same person (a racist white guy) who is obviously trying to incite something with his comments. Run your cursor over their name to see their e-mail addresses. “Kwanzella” is KWJ@hotmail.com, “Kwami” is DMC@hotmail.com in his first post, and then it changes in his second post.
Don’t fall prey to this kind of idiot.

By kristin

November 10, 2005 11:20 AM | Link to this

Lets face it; the Civil War was NOT fought because of slavery. Do you honestly believe that white northerners cared about the civil liberties of black people? If you think about it it’s kind of funny that the inventor of Coke sold the formula for chump change and is only being recognized by the corporate giant now.

and Kwami money is green

By Sean

November 10, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

Only in the “ATL” can the world’s most popular soft drink be twisted into a racial issue!

Preserve and accept your history - good and bad, instead of erasing it, for future generations. Atlanta has a poor record. Streets and parks renamed; historic buildings demolished.

I tip my cold glass of Coca Cola to you, Dr. Pemberton. Thank you for making life even more enjoyabloe !

By Al

November 10, 2005 11:51 AM | Link to this

this text will be bolded Dr. Pemberton should have this, it is long over due. You must remember the war was over states rights,deal with it!! Just like DR. King, the Confederacy and all the history will come to light and we the South shall over come.

By Jill

November 10, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this

Does the race card have to be played on every issue in this city. In order to be PC it seems that my past and the history of my ancestors gets swept under the carpet more and more as the years go by. By doing this is does not change the past….I agree slavery was extremely wrong and that things had to change. Everyone is the same and should be treated the same. I will not take away your history so please stop stealing mine. Dr. Pemberton should be honored because he gave a little bit of himself to Altanta.

By Shawn

November 10, 2005 01:01 PM | Link to this

Somewhere, sometime ago, we all have atleast tasted a Coke. While you were drinking it you didn’t care who invented it, but it did the job. In today’s world you would be surprised at some of the items we use everyday that were invented by people with all sorts of backgrounds. Stop being narrow minded. You have to look at the big picture! People do all sorts of strange things in life, and just a handful of them do something that impacts the world. This man impacted the world by his invention. He is long gone, but his invention has nothing to do with who uses it.

By JLM

November 10, 2005 01:22 PM | Link to this

You want money with color? Print your own. Be inclusive for once in your life and accept our history for what it is. Moving forward does not consist of undoing everything we’ve accomplished to get to where this great country is today.

By BUKHEADWHITY

November 10, 2005 01:27 PM | Link to this

Boys and Girls we ain’t gonna be happy in this city until we rename it Maynerdville or MartinLutherville. BTW you are not African American - if you were born in the US you are American. So go back to AFRICA if you are so AFRICAN I am of Engish descent way back when and I don’t call myself Engish American. Until you get over the African American part race will always be am issue!!

By Phil

November 10, 2005 01:48 PM | Link to this

What do Martin Luther King’s affairs with white women have to do with the inventor of Coca Cola ?

By Clay

November 10, 2005 02:04 PM | Link to this

It would be nice to see Coca Cola put all this money and honor where it belongs—Columbus, GA. Pemberton’s house and workshop (where the famous soft drink was invented) are located in the “Historic District” near the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus. Asa Candler got the formula from Pemberton and took it to Atlanta. Columbus businessman WC Bradley later bought the Coca Cola Co. I wonder what Columbus would be like today had Bradley brought the company back to Columbus instead of leaving it in Atlanta? I guess we’ll never know. Either way, Pemberton deserves the honor.

By steve sheppard

November 10, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this

Are you honoring slavery or just simply Coca-Cola? I am under the impression that it is Coke. When I hear Mr. Pemberton’s name I think of Coke.It somehow seems like a total waste of time to politicize this issue. But hey, what do I know. I’m just a Yankee from Detroit.

By Keon Johnson

November 10, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this

Funny.. However everyone’s intitled to there opinion. Today people are overly sensitive to everything. 1. The civil war was about state’s rights. A. The right to determine who is and isn’t a citizen. B. The right to leave the union at will. This was summed up in Slavery. I’m originally from Kentucky. Kentucky was a slave holding state however their economy wasn’t dependent on it as states further south. Therefore we didn’t leave the union…also we knew we’d be in the cross fire as we’re the gate way to the south. This was the case with Missouri and Maryland which DID suceede but was forced back in the union as it surrounded DC. The sad fact of the matter is that people fought for the confederacy who had not ability to own one slave…just the dream. Actually like to day they fougth for something that was actually detrimental to their own well being…..Paying JOBS that we weren’t able to get because of greedy selfish wealthy people that didn’t want to share in the profits:)

We can’t judge Pembleton on our modern standpoints. He was simply a product of his environment. This issue has nothing to do with slavery/confederacy. It has to do with honoring a man that invented a product know around the world. I’m sure that half of us…have things that we have done that we would hate to be judge for. The simple fact of the matter is that Slavery was a fact of reality. Georgia tried to outlaw it and their economy collapsed. It’s happening now… What’s going to happen 30yrs from now? “We can’t honor him because he used Mexican workers and paid them less than minimum wage.” Get over it. We were slaves now we’re not. Acknowledge the past, respect it and learn from it.

P.S…. Fact: There were blacks that owed slaves(This was the only way to keep some families together because black could simply be set free in some cases), There were blacks that fought for the confederacy. Before the end of the war Jeff Davis and others were contemplating abolishing slavery on their own…it had become unfeasible. Now go get a coke and drink!:)

By SLY

November 10, 2005 03:42 PM | Link to this

It is about Coca-Cola, who has always been a benefactor to the city of Atlanta, including DONATING the land that the Aquarium, and soon, the new World of Coca-Cola occupies. It is about Coca-Cola, and not anything political or racial. Moving on…

By Philip

November 10, 2005 04:09 PM | Link to this

The fact a guy was a Conferedate Veteran, given it was the late 19th Century in GA, confers no special cache to the people who obsess over some eprcieved slight of thier version of southern history. Glad this thread has turned into a boring re-hash of one-trick ponies.

By Qwanzell

November 10, 2005 04:21 PM | Link to this

Coca Cola therefore has complicity in slavery. They should make atonement for their crimes against humanity.

By jay jarrell

November 10, 2005 05:23 PM | Link to this

To think I thought I was prejudice,way to go homeboys,you add new meaning to the word,I raise my bourbon and COKE to you.To hell with Georgia!Ha,Ha,Ha jarrell9@bellsouth.net

By JoeyD

November 11, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this

To read some of these remarks about the condfederacy and slavery. Here a man is being judged totally by that alone. Being a confederate soldier did not automatically make you a biggot or a racisist, just as being a union soldier prevented you from being a racist. Do your research some of the worst treatment of slaves was not from those on this side of the Mason-Dixon! Marching with MLK does not autimatically open the pearly gates for you just as being raised in the south and teaching your children not to judge people by the color of their skin but by their own merit . Unfortunate for everyone it seems everytime someone like Mr Pemberton name comes up he’s labled with negative comments that are not all substantuated. Why is it OK to trash Southern heritage and those who made the ATL what it is now. But no one is to mention the supposed great black leaders like MLK when he stumled and he did stumle on occasion. (Just read Ralph Abernathy’s book he was as close as anyone to MLK) But are we going to trash him and remove everything in this city bearing his name. When pigs fly.

By Ring

November 11, 2005 09:34 AM | Link to this

JoeyD,

You are absolutely correct.

Dr. King’s known fratenization with white womem, from his college romance until the 60s, does not get brought up during his National holiday in January. It was just part of the man and his humanness.

By Patrick

November 11, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

It seems the race card is played often in this city. Why can’t an American icon be honored without smearing his past,or his color? Most of us Atlantans are proud to honor a person IN this city, no matter their skin color, as long as they were a great contributor TO this city. So stop playing the race card and enjoy the city you live in. BTW…Who hired Dallas Austin? How much money was he paid to write that new song? If it unites us all then great, but I don’t think it represents the city on a whole. I prefer Ray Charles and “Georgia.”

By Steve

November 11, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

Tara’s Theme would have been better. After 65 years it has stood the test of time.

Atlanta rsident Elton John & Bernie Taupin could have come up with something more classy than that abomination our tax dollars paid $250,000 for.

By Bill C.

November 11, 2005 11:49 AM | Link to this

Well done Coca-Cola, and where would Chattanooga be with out bottled coke. Bill C. Chattanooga

By Karin

November 11, 2005 12:03 PM | Link to this

Why do people have to turn everything into a racial issue. This man invented coca-cola, which is a great accomplishment seeing how huge that has become. Now for those who want to boycott this man, why stop here - why not boycott electricty and live in the dark ages, Benjamin Franklin had slaves and so did many presidents! Stop making everything racial - can’t you find something else to complain about? We are all just americans, stop with the white & black issue! Our kids will never learn to overcome racism if you people (mostly black) constantly remind everyone of your history. We know it - you have a black history month, black magazines, black beauty pagents, black channels, black organizations…all excludes everyone who isn’t black. If white people did that, we would be racist - what are you? Let this man have what he deserves…

By Bryan

November 11, 2005 12:03 PM | Link to this

The fact that this has turned into a race issue when it shouldn’t be is sad.

Coca Cola is part of what makes Atlanta what it is. Without the drink (which is my personal FAVORTIE btw) Atlanta likely wouldn’t be what it today. Coca Cola helped give us this wonderful Aquarium which will give us all access to the world’s oceans just a short drive downtown. Dr. Pemberton made it all possible. I had no idea he fought in the Civil War and quite frankly I don’t really care. So did many of my ancestors, for both sides. I’m not going to change my name because of that. We all make mistakes.

We’ve already destroyed so much of our past, let’s not do it with Coke.

By Shabala

November 11, 2005 12:49 PM | Link to this

All vestiges and reminders of slavery and the Confederacy should be eliminated from the landscape. To honor yet another slave owning cracker is outrageous. Look what it took to replace the old state flag. And Perdue gives us another Confederate flag in its place.

Go to the capitol building and see all those fancy portraits of Georgia’s slave breeding governors and Confederate generals, and rebel flags on display.

I got off the plantation and will not look back!

By ATLborn

November 11, 2005 12:59 PM | Link to this

Kristin you’re right. The Civil War wasn’t fought because of slavery. It was fought over the issue of states rights. Slavery was thrown in there later to give the North the ‘moral’ edge in the war. Kinda like how the Iraq war went from being about finding/destroying WMDs to establishing democracy in the middle east.

I have no problem with Pemberton receiving this honor. Many folks fought on the side of the confederacy simply because their homeland was involved in a war.

If they were trying to name the site Confederate place, then I’d have a problem. But not for the inventor of Coca cola.

By Joe Kerr

November 11, 2005 01:18 PM | Link to this

Why are black people so racist? why kill the past? why not learn from it and move forward? why do black people keep preaching hate? my georgia tells a story, that story may not be pretty at times but you cant just pretend it didnt happen. wonder what would happen if white comedians made a movie called “black chicks” and walked around in black face? but on the other hand, lets get jesse jackson down here to work the naming of this place out. he needs some camera time.

By Native Daughter

November 11, 2005 01:38 PM | Link to this

There are, at least, a few of us from Atlanta who consider the race card completely irrelevant. I’ve tired of this demographic or that calling folks “those people” or worse. But when you pull out the “cracker” epithet, you really demonstrate how little you know.

So-called Crackers didn’t help build Emory University and Medical School; Coke did. Just as the UA Center benefitted, Agnes Scott and the High Museum did. Let’s not forget the Atlanta Symphony, countless high school scoreboards, and on and on and on.

Native Coke-Drinking Atlantans built this Brave and Beautiful City. And if you don’t know the origin of that phrase, you really should go back to whence you came—and drink Pepsi.

By Tazzee

November 11, 2005 03:21 PM | Link to this

This is the most insane blog to date! Attention Joe Kerr - Jeff, the first commenter of the day was the one that made this a racial issue. And if you are foolish enough to believe that all the Kwami’s, Qwanzella’s and Shabala’s that have posted are real people that represent the views of black people - then perhaps you are foolish enough to believe that folks are going to start boycotting Coke.

As a decendent of slaves AND slave owners, because you know ‘master’ was dipping in the well, I don’t give a flying flip if Pemberton was a Confederate soldier. If the man is responsible for inventing Coke, then the Coca Cola company is right in honoring him.

By Shaquise

November 11, 2005 03:31 PM | Link to this

Tazzee,

If the infamous angel of death, Dr. Mengele, had invented aspirin, should Bayer build a statue of him or name a park after him?

By Tazzee

November 11, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this

If Bayer chooses to, why not? He would be the reason Bayer has the money to even think about building a statue.

And if people aren’t going to boycot Bayer simply because he was the inventor - why would they boycot because of the statue?

Finally, to try to compare a Nazi concentration camp doctor with someone that fought for the Confederacy is just plain silly anyway.

By Native Daughter

November 11, 2005 04:24 PM | Link to this

Nazis have nothing to do with Coca-Cola. And let me add: None of my people fought in the War of Northern Aggression. They stayed home to tend the fields and milk the cows. Not all white women can join the United Daughters of the Confederacy. I’m damn proud of my people.