Things to Do
Things to Do

29 reasons to celebrate Black History Month: No. 6, Gladys Knight

Black History: Gladys Knight
By
Feb 5, 2016

February marks Black History Month. Follow the AJC this month for a series of short stories and videos and people, places and events that played a significant role in the development of black people in America.

No. 6

Gladys Knight: Atlanta-born Gladys Knight is a legendary singer whose gospel-tinged voice made her a star as the leader of Gladys Knight & the Pips. With songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “If I Were Your Woman,” the R&B group dominated the charts for more than four decades. As part of the group and throughout her long solo career, Knight won seven Grammys. Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2015, the Georgia General Assembly renamed a part of an Atlanta road in Knight’s honor.

Grammy Award-winner Gladys Knight greeted guests before the highway dedication ceremony honoring Gladys Knight at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. The state Senate unanimously passed a proposal to name State Route 9 from Peachtree Street to 14th Street after the Atlanta-born superstar, who has never before anything named after her in her home state. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

icon to expand image

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

ExploreReason No. 7: Doug Williams
ExploreMore Black History Month stories from the AJC

About the Author

Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.

Follow Ernie Suggs on facebookFollow Ernie Suggs on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Blooper celebrates the Atlanta Brave’s 5-0 win over the New York Mets during a MLB game Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Truist Park. This year, the venue is a first-time host of the MLB All-Star game. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado for the AJC

Coming to Atlanta for MLB All-Star week? There’s fun outside Truist Park too.

Events happening around the city include the Capital One All-Star Village, MLB draft watch party and the All-Star 4.4 Miler.

Saddle up for these Beyoncé-themed pop-up bars, brunches and shows in Atlanta

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour is coming to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium for shows Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.

15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

From MLB All-Star Game festivities and a WWE Saturday Night Main Event to Run Santa Run and Goat Yoga, here are 15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend.

The Latest

Strike a yoga pose with a friendly dwarf goat at the Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center on Saturday. (Courtesy of the Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Credit: Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau

15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

Between Beyoncé shows, Atlanta’s creatives take the stage

Saddle up for these Beyoncé-themed pop-up bars, brunches and shows in Atlanta

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.