Albany in Dougherty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Georgia Civil Rights Trail: The Albany Movement

Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

1. Georgia Civil Rights Trail: The Albany Movement Marker

Inscription. The Albany Movement began here, at Shiloh Baptist Church, in November 1961. A coalition of black improvement associations and student activists from SNCC and Albany State College, the protest group set an unprecedented goal: the desegregation of an entire community, from bus stations to lunch counters. Demonstrations over two years resulted in the detention of 1,500 protesters. The participation and repeated arrests of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought national attention to the Albany Movement. Music sustained the campaign in Southwest Georgia and gave birth to the SNCC Freedom Singers. Legal action and the increase in black voter registration led to school desegregation, the end of public employee discrimination, and the election of black political officials in the region. Lessons learned in Albany influenced events in Birmingham in 1963.

Erected 2014 by the Georgia Historical Society, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Albany Civil Rights Institute. (Marker Number 47-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1961.

Location. 31° 34.347′ N, 84° 9.341′ W. Marker is in Albany, Georgia, in Dougherty County. Marker is at the intersection of West Whitney Avenue and South Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling west on West Whitney Avenue

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. Located in front of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 West Whitney Avenue, Albany GA 31701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. United States Post Office — Courthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nelson Tift Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Albany Theatre (approx. 0.4 miles away); Albany Lights (approx. 0.4 miles away); C.B. (Chevene Bowers) King (approx. 0.4 miles away); Flood of July 7, 1994 (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Exchange Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Freedom Alley and City Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

More about this marker. This marker is part of the Civil Rights Trail, a statewide public education initiative commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia.

SNCC = Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Albany Movement. (Submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Marker is located in front of the Shiloh Baptist Church (near center). image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

2. Marker is located in front of the Shiloh Baptist Church (near center).

Another marker notes this is where the Albany Civil Rights movement started image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

3. Another marker notes this is where the Albany Civil Rights movement started

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.