Lecture Notes: Lester Maddox and Segregation in Georgia

Introduction to Lester Maddox

• Background: Owned a small cafeteria on Georgia Tech campus.
• Beliefs: Ardent supporter of segregation; believed in choosing who to serve.

Civil Rights Movement Challenges

• Resistance to Desegregation: Ran people off with axe handles when challenged.
• Reaction to Civil Rights Act of 1964: Closed his cafeteria rather than comply.

Political Career

• Run for Governor:
  • Surprised many by winning the Democratic primary.
  • Attracted protest votes from white voters.
• Governorship:
  • Aimed to oppose desegregation where possible.
  • Surprisingly appointed some black officials.
  • Refused to lower state flags for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

Legislative Context

• Key Legislation:
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965
  • Fair Housing Act of 1968
• State Law on Governorship: A governor could not succeed himself immediately.

Transition and Legacy

• Lieutenant Governor Role:
  • Ran for lieutenant governor as he couldn't succeed himself as governor.
  • Served under Governor Jimmy Carter, a moderate New South governor.
• Period of Transition: Marked by conflicts and changes in public policies related to desegregation.