What Happened in 1906? Examining Atlanta’s Turbulent and Resilient Past
In this lesson, students will be introduced to the series of events that occurred over four days in Atlanta, Georgia in 1906 that came to be known as the Atlanta Race Massacre.
John Temple Graves was the editor of The Atlanta Georgian, and in that role, he played a part in inflaming racial tensions through sensational journalism leading up to the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre. Born in Willington, South Carolina, Graves pursued a career in journalism, becoming a prominent figure in Southern media. Graves worked for various other newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal and the New York American. His editorials often addressed key social and political issues of the time, and he was known for his strong opinions and persuasive rhetoric.
Graves was also known as an influential public speaker, earning a reputation for his compelling oratory skills. In an 1893 speech he gave in Chautauqua, Graves proclaimed “This is a white man’s government, and it will remain so forever, for God Almighty has stamped his seal and sign of sovereignty upon the Anglo-Saxon tribe.” Indeed, he was a vocal advocate for Southern interests and held a conservative stance on many issues, reflecting the prevailing attitudes of his era. Graves was a white supremacist who supported segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans. In addition to his dual career in journalism and oration, Graves was involved in politics, running for vice president of the United States in 1908 on the Independence Party ticket. His contributions to journalism and public discourse left a lasting impact on American media and political thought, though his views on race are now widely condemned.
