America's Black Capital: How African Americans Remade Atlanta in the Shadow of the Confederacy

by Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar

The remarkable story of how African Americans transformed Atlanta, the former heart of the Confederacy, into today’s Black mecca  
  
Atlanta is home to some of America’s most prominent Black politicians, artists, businesses, and HBCUs. Yet, in 1861, Atlanta was a final contender to be the capital of the Confederacy. Sixty years later, long after the Civil War, it was the Ku Klux Klan’s sacred “Imperial City.” 
 
America’s Black Capital chronicles how a center of Black excellence emerged amid virulent expressions of white nationalism, as African Americans pushed back against Confederate ideology to create an extraordinary locus of achievement. What drove them, historian Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar shows, was the belief that Black uplift would be best advanced by forging Black institutions. America’s Black Capital is an inspiring story of Black achievement against all odds, with effects that reached far beyond Georgia, shaping the nation’s popular culture, public policy, and politics. 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Business

544 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very informative, easy read and needs to be a staple in every household. It's a basic look at how and why Reconstruction failed after the Civil War, but through self-determinism Black people were able to pull themselves up in the heart of the Confederacy.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar, America's Black Capital How African Americans Remade Atlanta in the Shadow of the Confederacy, Basic Books, November 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof.

Jeffrey O.G. Ogbar has written such an illuminating book, one that I have been gratified to have read, and one that I encourage others to read. Ogbar’s history, cultural studies, political and personal understanding of the way in which race has dominated the Atlanta scene permeates the book, making it one that needs to be read to enhance an understanding of the way in which race/economics/politics and utter courage have come together since the American Civil War to bring America to where it is today. Ogbar does not eschew mention of The Making of A Nation, Gone With the Wind, the Uncle Remus stories and confederate icons such as statues, songs and societies, but dissects them and their impact. Rather than dismiss them, he powerfully demonstrates how such works continue the efforts of those who supported slavery and were critical of the changes attempted after the end of the war. This book helps develop an understanding of the racism that is so powerfully operating to undermine African Americans’ access to political power today. But it also begins with reference to the amazing Stacey Abrams, and the wonderful success of Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock to the Senate in 2021, and more recently, for a six-year term. It is a book of horror and hope, gripping and uplifting.

The Introduction establishes the ‘Dixie Heritage’ of Atlanta while looking forward to what has been known as Black Mecca. Ogbar dissects both. He forswears a simplistic approach, raising the questions that will pursue the reader throughout the book, and afterwards. The historical background of secession, war, and Atlanta’s beginnings are familiar- but that familiarity is tempered with a thoroughgoing discussion of the ideas and events of the period. Moving into the realities of the abolition of slavery, to reconstruction and the continuing impact of Sherman, attempts to withdraw from the new era and Neo-Confederacy are covered in the next chapters. Self-determination is an important theme taken up in Chapter 5, and this self-determination remains an issue that competes with concerns about integration throughout the following chapters. Black Nationalism and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, White Nationalism and the Civil Rights Movement; establishment of the Black mecca and Atlanta today are covered in chapters 9 to 11. A powerful epilogue completes the book.

A particular feature that is worth remarking is the descriptive notes for each chapter. They make interesting reading in themselves.

As a non-academic follower of American politics, one who celebrated Reverend Rafael Warnock’s success, and admirer of Stacey Abrams political work (and reader of one of her novels) I found this a compelling book. It is thoughtful, informative, and hopeful at the same time as making the African American experience with its horrors and courage so accessible.

[Mariama Thorlu-Bangura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. The description sounded extremely interesting. But I didn't get too far into the book. It just didn't hold my attention, and the tone/style of the writing was not my cup of tea. I'm sure others will like and enjoy this, but it was a DNF for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Basic Books for this arc, which I voluntarily reviewed.

[V. J. Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book at the library and was moved by its title. The content has not failed to deliver. The author takes the reader on a historical journey just prior to the Civil War to present day Atlanta. One major takeaway is that Atlanta ended slavery on Sept 2.

For those familiar with Atlanta, one will recognize popular street or park names but not know the story behind those names. This book weaves in multiple personal accounts to help paint the picture and bring a greater sense of understanding of what occurred in particular neighborhoods and areas.

One of those most amazing aspects of the book is the incorporation of nationally known practices such as redlining, mass incarceration, Jim Crow, etc and how it directly impacted Atlanta.

If nothing else, this is the story that needs to be told in history classes across metro Atlanta.

UPDATE 12-30-23: I just finished the book, and it held up to expectations. Having moved to Atlanta in 2001, I was not as familiar with the history leading up to that moment. This book provided an extremely good glimpse of the transition. It felt slightly rushed for 2001 - 2023, but it provided extremely important highlights of the city's leadership and opportunities afforded to minority businesses. With a much emphasis provided throughout the book about Sweet Auburn, I was hoping to see accounts for the downfall of the community - namely the construction of the interstate. I also would have liked to see what caused the complete transition of West End from white to black.

However, there was so much packed into this book that it would have been a challenge to include everything. The author even now this in his acknowledgements.

I count myself as fortunate to have read this book, and I am sharing it with my colleagues. I hope other cities have similar works that help describe their histories.

[Nikki Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved learning more about Atlanta, especially the introduction and first few chapters, leading up to the civil war, as that was the information that I was least familiar with. I loved learning about the importance and impact of Black self-determinism, establishing control of institutions in their community, while not centering integration with whites. The second half of the book felt repetitive in that his main points were the same, and it felt too detailed for me to maintain as much focus. That said, it is the most comprehensive history of Atlanta ever and well documented.

Some things I want to remember:
- Atlanta started out as a very small railroad town named Atlantica-Pacifica.
- By 2020, Atlanta had the highest concentration of Black-owned businesses and millionaires, and largest number of black people in any metro area after NYC.
- That said, poverty is nationally pervasive and a consequence of capitalism that is alive and well for black people in Atlanta like everywhere else in the USA
- The civil war: A religious succession occurred a generation before the establishment of the Confederacy. Abolitionists were considered anti-Christian and therefore immoral.
- The mission behind the Union mobilization was not to end slavery but to protect the United States; a direct response to succession.
- Slavery was the foundation of wealth in Georgia and the South. They weren’t about to give up their status and power without blood.
- Atlanta become a big deal after other major cities were taken over by Union troops, as the last remaining stand and a key place for the spread of propaganda through the printed press
- Post-war, Atlanta grew quickly because it didn’t have a history of slavery and offered new job opportunities for white and black people.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot to write a review of this when I finished it a week and a half ago.

Short version: Ogbar argues that the strength of the black community came from its internal organization. Atlanta wasn't that big a city before the Civil War. It rapidly grew afterwards, becoming the state capital, so many moved, black and white. Soon it had one of the largest black populations in the South. The whites were heavily pro-Confederate/pro-Lost Cause. After the horrible 1906 race riot, it showed the black community they had to build up from within. In the civil rights movement, Ogbar argues the city "to busy to hate" stuff was heavily overblown as it integrated late. The mayor was a moderate, but he won with mostly black vote, getting only a third of white voters. The city gained a black mayor later and pushed heavily for affirmative action. It became "America's Black Capital."

[Brenton Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very accurate and well written history of African Americans in Atlanta. I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in African American history, Georgia history and Southern history as well.

[Neal Fandek]

A ton of history, numerous surprising insights: but this book reads like what it is, an academic treatise written by an an academic, not a writer. I found myself skipping many pages; just too dense in spots. Still, some very interesting facts and observations here.

[Donna Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Jeffrey M Brenman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating Telling of How the Past Shaped the Present!

This story is important for an understanding of how the country's historical ties to slavery and the monumental struggle against it has shaped where we are today. Well researched and supported by references to original sources, the story of Atlanta reveals just how short-sighted racism was, and is, in depriving not only the oppressed and the persecuted, but the entire country, of the economic and cultural benefits that flow from equitable treatment of the entire populace of a country.

[J Keith Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly well researched and great storytelling

This is an amazing and eye opening book detailing how paradoxically and ironically the weight of oppression in Atlanta (and Georgia at large) led to the rise of a black leadership class in Atlanta that has carried through to this day. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!