Charles Black, History in the Making

Charles Black,

History in the Making

The actor, activist and previous president of the AUC’s Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights, Charles Black played a huge part in history by taking a class at Morehouse led by Martin Luther King himself.

The class consisted of philosophy and democracy. Black came out of that class creating Atlanta’s first civil rights movement with Lonnie King.

The idea came to mind from the four men who hosted a series of nonviolent protests/sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. Considering his recent learned insights from MLK Jr, Black, the activist, was prepared

By Mariah Hill

The Atlanta Student Movement, formed in 1960 in Atlanta by students of the campuses of Spelman, Morehouse and other Atlanta University (AUC) students has changed drastically during the years from fighting for inequality and the civil rights movement.

For generations students and leaders have walked the brick promenade to get their education or become the next African American scholar to make a difference in our society. From the regentrification buildings in the late 2000’s to creating new healthy resources for students around the area.

to take a stand for human rights. “We were already mad and wanted to change things. When we saw what the boys in Greensboro have done, that gave us a way of dealing with these situations,” Black said.

The process began with a meeting held on Morehouse College campus where King fully warned the prospective participants “if you’re not ready to do this, this nonviolent protest, then you can go about your business and don’t talk about it.” Soon after, the respective HBCU college presidents were agonizingly aware of the upcoming event. This created potential concerns with the Atlanta University Center AUC executive leadership. “They called us in and initially tried to talk us out of it.” Although Black was certainly determined to get his point across. “If we’re going to do this thing, we have to let

the city know why we are doing this.”

Once the Morehouse and AUC student leaders were convinced, there was nothing in this historians’ way to speak forcefully for inequality.

Prior to the first sit-in, the Atlanta Journal, Atlanta Constitution, and other major news outlets, published a riveting and revealing advertisement speaking on the incident. This was later “picked up and ran by the New York Times and a paper in L.A.”, Black recounts.

Once the world discovered what citizens were doing for their community, Black took this opportunity to build togetherness. “Hundreds of us would go to 11 different places in downtown Atlanta at exactly 11 o’clock,” Black said.

The former president has recently been recognized in the book ‘Nine Days to Race, Save MLK Junior’s Life’ speaking on how Martin Luther King marched with Lonnie King and Black himself for the first time in Atlanta, Georgia after previously disagreeing. “We mostly felt that we needed a spark in our Movement, and we knew that if Dr. King got arrested, that would bring a lot of attention.” He was highly ecstatic to bring life back into the change. “That hit the national news and international news.”

March 15, 1960 was the start of an historic moment in the Atlanta culture that was later revamped in 2020.

The Black Lives Matter Movement gave African Americans the opportunity to showcase inequality from the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others.

Aside from his activist background, Blacks acting career also sparked some attention.

The Florida native once played the role of a homeless man who became insane after lighting a cigarette, throwing it into a waste basket which caused the house to burst into flames killing his wife and children. This was a very powerful moment for Black. “The lesson in that for me is we don’t always know why people are enduring the circumstances that they are endure.”

Charles Blacks acting career began when he enrolled his daughter into an acting class at the age of 10. Since the class was located some ways from his house, the instructor suggested Black would stay and join the meeting. “I was one of the three that he encouraged to get in the game you know.”

It wasn’t long until the actor was a household name in Hollywood. “I got a call for an audition … once I finished, they asked how long I have been in the business. I looked at my watch and said about five minutes now and got the role.”

Once he received his first movie role in John Emran’s Carolina Skeletons, Black had no intentions in leaving the business. “I decided hey, you know this is pretty cool. I can do this.”

30 years later, Charles Black continues to be in acting business doing some projects.

This well-rounded individual has been a national commodity for years in the making. The historian continues to share is story with the world by being the guide to the next generation to come.

“The lesson in that for me is we don’t always know why people are enduring the circumstances that they are endure.”

BLACK LIVES

MUST MATTER FOR EVERY SPARK TO SHINE

Walmart is proud to be part of the American family and believes that America’s social challenges become Walmart’s challenges to help address as well. We all must do more to stand against racism and to keep supporting the basic principles of human rights, dignity, and justice.

Moving forward, we’re helping build a more equitable world by influencing these four systems:

Criminal justice. We’re supporting work to reshape hiring practices to help non-violent, formerly incarcerated applicants be appropriately considered and assisted as they re-enter the workforce.

Education. We’re strengthening recruiting of diverse associates, including from historically Black colleges and universities, and addressing potential disparities in development programs.

Financial. We’re supporting more diverse suppliers and Marketplace sellers, along with leveraging our influence to increase access to capital for women and people of color.

Healthcare. We’re looking to improve healthcare outcomes for women and people of color as we contribute to building a more holistic healthcare business in the U.S.

Together with the Walmart Foundation, we’re also addressing racism and inequity within these four systems by committing $100 million over five years through a new Center for Racial Equity.

We are committed to helping build a brighter, more diverse, and more equitable America.

Visit Walmart.com/RacialEquity to learn more.