One of the historical sites to visit in African American history is the National historic site in Atlanta, Georgia where you can admire the Birth Home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which can be visited only with a park ranger led tour. The tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour is strictly limited to 15 people per tour. They fill up fast on weekends and holidays.
The Heritage of African American History
The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site includes a number of facilities that are part of the African American history heritage and are run in partnership with the National Park Service, Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached and The King Center. Inside these facilities the visitor can learn about Dr. King's life and his influence on others.
African American history heritage here also includes The Peace Plaza is the area between the National Park Service Visitor Center and Auburn Avenue. The focal points of the beautifully landscaped plaza area are the International World Peace Rose Garden, which consists of inspirational messages of peace composed by students from local Atlanta schools, and a flowing water fountain. Also located in the plaza is the "BEHOLD" statue.
The BEHOLD Monument is an important element of the African American history heritage and commemorates the historic ideology that guided the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On January 11, 1990 his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King unveiled this monument as homage to her late husband and as a lasting inspiration to all who fight for self-respect, social justice, and human rights.
Icons of African American History
One of the most exceptional icons in African American history is Rosa Parks. She was not a politician or born with a silver spoon in her mouth but she influenced a whole generation by making a stand for what she believed in. We all know the story behind Rosa Parks' brave stand but many don't know the details in this crucial even in African American history. In 1955 it was ordinary for a black individual to concede his or her seat to a white individual on buses. On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks went into a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. During this time, a black man paid for his or her seat in the front of the bus. Then he or she had to get back off of the bus and re-enter in the back entrance of the vehicle to take their seats. This is precisely what Rosa Parks did. She sat in the back of the bus as was common in those days.
What happened next would change the course of African American history forever. Rosa sat next to a black man and across from two black women on the Montgomery, Alabama bus. Before long the front of the bus became full with passengers. A white man got on the bus and the driver told Rosa, the man next to her as well as the other two women to give up their seats for the white man. They all moved but Rosa stayed put. When the bus driver asked her to move again, she said no. The bus driver then called the police and Rosa was arrested.
This event led to a chain of events that would deeply affect African American history in the United States. During this time, Martin Luther King, Jr. a 26 year old man who served quietly as a minister, decided to do something about it. He was scheduled to speak at a big meeting at Holt Street Baptist Church on this very day. December 1st, 1955 turned out to be a great turning point in African American history. His speech pushed thousands of black men and women who at the time were taking buses to get to work, to do peaceful boycotts of the bus companies.
Ironically, the boycott was not in demand of ending segregation on public buses. Instead the nonviolent protesters simply wanted to be treated with dignity and respect. They demanded polite treatment from the drivers as well as first-come, first-served seating. They also wanted black drivers hired for routes that commonly transported black patrons.
The combination of Rosa Park's brave stance as well as Martin Luther King Jr's nonviolent boycott of the pubic transportation system led to the end of segregation on city buses by December 1956. African American history was taking a turn for the better.