Ralph McGill, who was a longtime editor and publisher of The Atlanta Constitution, wrote more than 10,000 columns from June 1938 until his death in February 1969.

Dr. Martin Luther King mentioned McGill in his “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” in 1963, writing that McGill was one of the “few enlightened white persons” to understand and sympathize with the civil rights movement.

RELATED: Why we celebrate Ralph McGill during Black History Month

And in 1964, McGill went on to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In the video above, Monica Richardson, managing editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reads excerpts from former publisher Ralph McGill’s column written in 1963 about the March on Washington.

RELATED: Ralph McGill’s 1968 column after the death of Martin Luther King

Keep Reading

Comedian D.L. Hughley, pictured at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024, said he enjoys coming to Atlanta because he's able to see his grandchildren, eat good food and have a good time.  (Paul Sancya/AP 2024)

Credit: AP

Featured

John Raulet, a partner in Raulet Property Partners, stands in the soundstage at Mailing Street Stageworks, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in Atlanta. Raulet’s company has either converted or sold off all but one of its soundstages amid a downturn in film production in the U.S. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com