Sweet Auburn in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Wheat Street Baptist Church

365 Auburn Avenue

— Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site —

Wheat Street Baptist Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2021

1. Wheat Street Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. This church and its pastors have been a guiding force in Atlanta's black community since the late 1800s, when Auburn Avenue was known as Wheat Street. Rev. Peter James Bryant was an associate editor of The Voice of The Negro magazine and an early advocate for equal justice and voting rights. Rev. William Holmes Borders led boycotts that resulted in desegregating the city's buses and downtown stores. Within these walls, blacks initiated the establishment of a credit union, low-rent housing, Butler Street YMCA, and other facilities to create a self-sufficient community.

The black preachers furnished the people power. … The preachers marched … were present at the bus protest … would go to City Hall … would attend the voter education meetings. — [unreadable]

Captions
[Top] The Bev. Peter James Bryant, pastor from 1896 to 1926, led efforts to establish the Butler Street YMCA and a high school for blacks.
[Bottom] The Rev, William Holmes Borders, shown with his family, served as pastor from 1937 to 1985.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location.

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33° 45.325′ N, 84° 22.551′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in Sweet Auburn. Marker is on Auburn Avenue NE east of Hilliard Street NE, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 359 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Haugabrooks Funeral Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Cox Brothers Funeral (within shouting distance of this marker); Religious and Fraternal Institutions (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Auburn Avenue Branch (about 300 feet away); Prince Hall Masonic Building (about 300 feet away); Alice Dugged Cary (about 300 feet away); Heyday of Auburn Avenue (about 400 feet away); Ebenezer Baptist Church Heritage Sanctuary (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.

Also see . . .
1. Our Story. History of the church and brief biographies of six pastors (Wheat Street Baptist Church website). (Submitted on November 22, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Wheat Street Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia (1869-). Historical overview by Kayla Schott-Bresler, posted March 14, 2014 (BlackPast). (Submitted on November 22, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 20, 2021

2. Wheat Street Baptist Church Marker

Wheat Street Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

JJonahJackalope via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), October 11, 2020

3. Wheat Street Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on November 22, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.