Saturday, October 8, 2016

Hamilton Jordan - A Boy from Georgia



I have just finished reading A Boy From Georgia by Hamilton Jordan.  As most of you know Hamilton Jordan was Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter.  In this powerful book Jordan talks about his realizations about the world in which he lived.  Raised in Albany, GA Jordan came of age during the 1960s.  He witnessed first hand what is now called "The Albany Movement."  From the Fall of 1961 to the Summer of 1962. Many including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. considered the Albany Movement a failure because their goals were not accomplished at that time.  History has shown this was not the case.  Voter registration of African-Americans in Albany increased. Protests and marches occurred in neighboring Southwest Georgia Towns.  The following spring the City Commission of Albany removed segregation statues from its books.  And young white people like Hamilton Jordan started questioning the beliefs of their parents and grandparents. 

In 1963 Jordan worked as an intern for Senator Richard B. Russell (GA). Here, he was able to witness the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr. King delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. 

I highly recommend this book!