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Morehouse College. Dr. King received a Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary and a PhD from Boston University. While pastor of a church in Montgomery, Alabama, he was catapulted into the leadership of the bus boycott in that city where he put into practice he philosophy of non-violence which he had become enamored of as a student. During the 1960's Dr. King led many demonstrations throughout the south frequently landing in jail. In 1964 he became the only Georgian ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for Peace. In 1969 he returned to Atlanta as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Sad as it is to say all major Southern cities with a large Black population and typically in terms of Atlanta with its concentration of colleges we find the "IN" and "OUT" groups with those on the fringe who are neither "IN" or "OUT". Money and what money can provide has and continues to be the measuring stick for most Northerners whereas the South and Atlantians still adhere to some of the social customs of that area. The "IN" group in Atlanta is made up primarily of the professional class with doctor, lawyer, teacher heading the list followed by "OLD" family and we have many of them in the Atlanta "ELITE". Because of the large number of Black colleges we find a chapter of most major fraternities and sororities together with all of our "MAIN-LINE" organizations i.e. Links, medical societies auxiliaries et all. We shall not attempt to name the "OUTS" as we are all "OUT" in the minds of the major groups. This in part is where Atlanta and Atlantians differ in some respect from other cities of similar size in terms of Black population, there is an element of cohesiveness that draws all elements of the group together where political and other major issues are at stake that concerns the group as a whole. The desire to excel and push for a better way of life appears to transcent [[transcend]] all other differences when it is time to be counted.

Atlanta is the social and cultural capital of Georgia. We now find visitors from all states in the union and the world coming to Atlanta because of business or other activities requiring their presence. Blacks returning to Atlanta find that this cosmopolitan climate is akin to the situation theiy [[they]] became accustomed to in many of the places they had migrated to in parts of the country. They now find the recreational and cultural activities that they may have become accustomed to attending in other areas are now an integral part of the new Atlanta which can now boast of a major baseball team plus football and hockey in its stadium. Spring brings the best in regional art and sculpture, also one now finds a live symphony, ballet and theatre performances. 

Religion has always played a major role and has been an integral part of the Black experience whether one attends a particular church, or not plays no major role in this phenomenon, it is part and parcel of the Black physic. With this in mind it is easy to see why many Blacks feel a certain affinity with Atlanta. Prior to World War II and even today some of the stalwarts of the Black ministry were products of one of the schools of the Atlanta university complex. The name of the major churches in the city have that familiar ring which recalls the past such as Big Bethel, Ebenezer, Friendship, Mt. Zion, Wheat Street, to name a few together with many other churches with beautiful edifices, each one contributing to the religious and social life of the community in which they are located.

Style and manner in which it is shown takes on a particular significance in the case of Black homes in the Atlanta area. In Atlanta there are more beautiful homes owned by Blacks than in any other city of similar numbers. Similarly business with Black ownership has grown and continue to thrive in Atlanta. One of the oldest Black owned business in the U.S., The Atlanta Life Insurance Company, has its home office in this city. Other Black owned enterprises one can look to with pride are: The Citizen Trust Bank, Westview Plaza, The Mutual Federal Band and the Atlanta Daily World to name but a few. 

Atlanta is the "Athens of the South" for Black youth, containing some of our most respectable institutions of higher learning. Even today, many parents who live in other areas of the country are sending their children to

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Fred Funderberg is Chief Officer of Citizens Trust Bank

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Saitch, Powell, McCulers, Shropshire, Washington and Candler

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