This week marks the 55th anniversary of the desegregation of Atlanta schools.

Nine black students were selected via a process to be the first to go to four all-white Atlanta schools. Through no riots and boycotts took place and the students attended without incident, their lives were not easy, as Atlanta Journal-Constitution blogger Maureen Downey reminds us.

The AJC also has gathered some memorable photos from that period and you can see them here.

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Views of the exterior of Druid Hills High School in Atlanta shown on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. In the plan approved by the DeKalb County school board on Monday, everything but the main building, pictured here, will be demolished in favor of a new school building. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

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Democrat Eric Gisler celebrated his Tuesday election victory at the Trappeze Pub in Athens, Ga. (AP)

Credit: AP