By Lashley John
On March 10, 2022, a walk for peace was held in Atlanta staring “Centennial Olympic Park” which is located in the heart of the city and ending at the “Rodney Cook Sr. Park. The 90-minute walk was meant to send a message to the world that the voice and message for peace is needed at this time.
In addressing the crowd who did the march across the city, U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young said that “America had changed, and it was a change for the better, and it is people like you who forced the change. With your non-violent protests, sit-ins, and marches, you showed your courage and allowed the country to change its way of dealing with people like you.” He emphasized the importance that the Black religious institutions play in swaying the moral trajectory of the country. They were able to convince the nation to see things in 1965, right after the conflict in Selma, Alabama. Ambassador Young acknowledged that things have changed in recent years. “The leadership structure that was in place no longer exists.” He explained that the planning for the marches and activities was of critical importance back then, as it was a very dangerous period.
The park where the statue was unveiled has strong historical references that go back to the Civil War. It was an area that would often flood with sewage and filth that would flow from the surrounding hillside and into this lower, less accommodating area of land that was occupied by the poor and underclass members of the community. Today, it reflects the aspiration and the long journey towards a better life for the people in this neighborhood.
The newly developed park currently hosts statues of John Lewis and Andrew Young, but they intend to have statues of other people who have dedicated their lives toward achieving a more equitable form of living and changing the nature of life for everyone in Atlanta.
The “Cook” family, in whose name the park was created, has a long history of standing for equality in the city. Their relationship with Ambassador Young goes back to him winning the election for Mayor over Rodney Cook Sr. It was a rainy election day, but the Black radio stations and Black taxi drivers worked as a team to get the vote out under the worst of conditions. As Ambassador Young stated, “In that election, I was surprised by the number of whites who voted for me, as the sentiment in some quarters was that “we just had ‘Maynard Jackson’ and did not wish for another ‘Black mayor.’”
Last updated on March 15, 2022
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