The Movement

The fight for equal rights had long been waged in Decatur’s Beacon community in myriad ways, but it began to coalesce as a movement around 1950 with formation of the Decatur Colored Citizen League. In 1955, the DeKalb Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was organized in Decatur. In the early days, the NAACP was often referred to as “the movement” for fear that affiliation with the organization could cost you your job, or worse.

In 1961, hundreds lined up to see Jackie Robinson deliver the keynote address for the NAACP kickoff rally at the Thankful Baptist Church in Decatur. Many who attended the event as young children still remember shaking hands with the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman who had integrated Major League Baseball in 1947, and in retirement became a civil rights trailblazer.

One of Decatur’s most prominent citizens, Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson, has helped knock down many racial barriers in the city, and works to maintain the history of the Beacon community. She worked closely with the Decatur Colored Citizen League and the NAACP, and became the first African-American city commissioner and mayor of the City of Decatur. After moving to Decatur in 1949, Wilson was at the forefront of efforts to integrate Decatur schools, acted as a state and national PTA officer, and played a key role in founding the Beacon Hill Clinic and the Oakhurst Community Health Center. Awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Agnes Scott College, Wilson continues to dedicate her life to making positive change in her community. 

John Henry Shanks, too, left his mark on Beacon. He helped establish the Boy Scouts of Decatur, imparting important life skills and acting as a role model for young boys in the community. Along with Rosetta Williams, Shanks helped found the first chapter of the NAACP in DeKalb County. He was also active in the Mt. Zion church and with the PTA.