Sweet Auburn
sweet auburn historic district historic africanamerican neighborhood along surrounding auburn avenue east downtown atlanta georgia united state name sweet auburn coined john wesley dobbs referring richest negro street world one largest concentration africanamerican business united state national historic landmark district designated covering acre ha neighborhood significant history development segregated area state jim crow law sweet auburn also added national register historic place year sweet auburn one officially recognized neighborhood atlanta bounded freedom parkway old fourth ward formerly separate bedford pine neighborhood north boulevard old fourth ward east marta east–west line oakland grant park neighborhood south downtown connector downtown atlanta west first settlement land formerly occupied union troop called shermantown many year developed quickly near georgia railroad endpoint newly graded road called simply boulevard led railroad north avenue near ponce de leon avenue angier spring rise auburn avenue black business district atlanta great extent outcome atlanta race riot prior time black business operated largely downtown atlanta — business district integrated far business ownership concerned competition workingclass white black job housing gave rise fear tension print medium fueled tension hearsay alleged sexual assault white woman black men triggering riot left least people dead black injured black business started move previously integrated business district downtown relative safety area around atlanta university center west downtown auburn avenue fourth ward east downtown sweet auburn avenue became home alonzo herndons atlanta mutual city first blackowned life insurance company celebrated concentration black business newspaper church nightclub fortune magazine called sweet auburn richest negro street world phrase originally coined civil right leader john wesley dobbs poem deserted village oliver goldsmith sweet auburn atlanta black college formed nexus prosperous black middle class upper class arose despite enormous social legal obstacle sweet auburn designated national historic landmark however like many innercity neighborhood sweet auburn fell victim lack investment heavy widespread crime homelessness abandonment compounded construction downtown connector freeway split two national trust historic preservation recognized one america endangered historic place georgia trust historic preservation included area list place peril historic district development corporation hddc formed turn trend around starting house surrounding birth home dr martin luther king jr working outward city atlanta completed installation atlanta streetcar line creates loop connecting martin luther king jr national historical park downtown tourist attraction centennial olympic park streetcar travel east along edgewood avenue west along auburn avenue several church located along avenue big bethel ame first congregational helped build maintain heritage street lady lourdes catholic church located avenue also significant force first black catholic parish city royal peacock club provided elegant setting many african american could perform bring changing style black popular music atlanta originally called top hat club opened club hosted local talent national act bb king four top tam atlanta gladys knight one many significant commercial building within district atlanta life insurance company secondlargest black insurance company united state atlanta life insurance founded alonzo herndon former slave walton county georgia central building atlanta life insurance company complex beau art building facing auburn avenue district also includes rucker building atlanta first blackowned office building constructed henry rucker former slave turned businessman politician also located auburn avenue atlanta daily world first blackowned daily newspaper founded atlanta daily world still nation longest running african american newspaper atlanta police department integrated hiring eight black police officer assigned auburn avenue apex museum – founded atlanta daily world – founded atlanta life insurance – founded big bethel ame church – founded ebenezer baptist church – founded herndon building – opened demolished following damage atlanta tornado martin luther king jr national historical park including dr king birth january home – built visitor center – founded odd fellow building auditorium – – lady lourdes catholic church founded prince hall masonic temple built addition added rucker building – constructed sweet auburn curb market – opened georgia insurance brokerage founded sweet auburn celebrates annual auburn springfest fall sweet auburn heritage festival sweet auburn heritage festival annual festival held first weekend october auburn avenue civil right leader hosea williams founded first festival charles johnson founded festival way celebrate african american achievement established auburn avenue festival offer food art entertainment throughout day celebrating auburn avenue past growth operated sweet auburn committee festival entertainment varies comedian coming artist diverse genre music sweet auburn heritage festival search entertainment city atlanta macon savannah augusta huntsville chattanooga hope help non established artist path stardom artist usher raymond outkast indiaarie ravensymoné started performing stage festival ultimately sweet auburn heritage festival entertainment grown much farther originally anticipated beginning stage edgewood avenue run heart sweet auburn become hotspot viewing street art atlanta work international artist sten lex local artist dr dax chris veal found edgewood avenue surrounding street several sweet auburn mural found atlanta street art map auburn avenue research library african american culture history institution dedicated preserving highlighting african american culture history article incorporates text national park service website work u government therefore public domain list national historic landmark georgia u state national register historic place listing fulton county georgia african american atlanta httpwwwsweetauburncom atlanta georgia national park service discover shared heritage travel itinerary sweet auburn heritage festival site photo sweet auburn springfest