My Drive Down MLK Drive In Atlanta - Part 4 - The Disrespect Of The Greats Honored On The Street Signs

My Drive Down MLK Drive In Atlanta - Part 4 - The Disrespect Of The Greats Honored On The Street Signs

• Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr - No explanation needed
• James P. Brawley - The 19th President of Clark College
  
• Joseph E Lowery - Reverend, Civil Rights Activist, Medal of Freedom Winner
• Joseph E Boone - Reverend, Civil Rights Activist
• Ralph David Abernathy - Reverend, Civil Rights Activist

All of these great Black men are honored on street signs in this area of Southwest Atlanta.  

I told the story of the narrative that drove the changes of street signs of the past few years.   Many of these street signs in SouthWest Atlanta indeed honored the heros of the people who used to live in this area before the neighborhood changed.  Various Civil War Confederate Generals were honored.  Simpson, Gordon, Ashby and others.  

The question was asked: "Does anyone wonder why the residents of these areas are driven to crime and violence when they look up and see the names of their oppressors honored on the street signs?".  

The Community Is Connected To The Campus

From what I consider as the opening of the CAU campus at James P Brawley at MLK the streets that I frequently talk about on this blog are but a stones throw away.  

When I questioned why various Atlanta University Center students chose to jump on a bus and travel 8 hours to Jena Louisiana for "justice" for the "Jena 6" I knew what I was talking about.  I realized that few of them on campus would be willing to walk 10 blocks in any direction off of campus wearing an iPhone in public view.

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(Note: Simpson Road is now called "Joseph E Boone Dr")

As you can see - the campus of the Atlanta University Center is a short walk from "The Most Deadly Block In Atlanta" - that being "Joseph E Lowery Blvd at Joseph E Boone Dr".

James P Brawley Drive @ MLK Drive

Martin Luther King Jr Drive at James P Brawley.

 

James P Brawley Drive - Blocked Off Due To Traffic Control Policies on The CAU Campus

This street had been accessible to cars. The "Woodruff Library" is up the street as well as several dormitories on the road. The campus police have blocked the street as a means of controlling access to the campus.   Where as Spelman has a full gate around its campus as an all-woman's college, Clark Atlanta is open and integrated with the community and other streets.   It would be logistically challenging to wall this campus off from the outside world.   I don't believe that they should.

The Most Deadly Block In Atlanta - Joseph E Lowery at Joseph E Boone

Drive down a few blocks on MLK Jr, hook a right on Joseph E Lowery - right at the campaign HQ of Councilman Ivory Young and down about 6 or 7 blocks and you will be at the "Most Deadly Block In Atlanta".

 

James P Brawley at Joseph E Boone

Drive down a few blocks on Joseph E Boone and there is the outer edge of the square that I am driving - James P Brawley Drive. Make a right to head back where I came from.

MLK @ Ralph David Abernathy Drive

As I drove away from campus, westward - here is the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Dr and Ralph David Abernathy Dr (its end point).