Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, Maynard Jackson, Jr., who took on Atlanta's establishment as the city's first black mayor and later helped plan for its role in the 1996 Olympics, died last month at the age of 65. Maynard Jackson first made history in 1973 when he was elected the first black mayor of Atlanta. He made his presence known immediately by taking on the predominantly white business leadership and demanding that doors be opened for blacks. That is why many people called him Mr. Affirmative Action in this country. He was reelected to a second term in 1977 where he led the city through one of its darkest periods, the string of slayings of young blacks from 1979 to 1981. When he left office after 2 years, barred from seeking a third consecutive term, he could boast of many accomplishments, including the expansion of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and the opening of the city's rapid rail system.”