South Downtown in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
“Expelled Because of Color”
The cinder block forms at the base of the sculpture symbolize the building of black political awareness and self-representation in Georgia. Our enslavement, our role in the Revolutionary War, the Black church, our labor and the right to vote are components of the black Georgian's struggle from the slave ship to the State House.
John Riddle, sculptor. Presented to the State of Georgia by the Black members of the Georgia General Assembly who served between the dates of 1963 and 1978.
Erected 1978 by Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is September 3, 1868.
Location. 33° 44.938′ N, 84° 23.265′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in South Downtown. Marker can be reached from Capitol Avenue SW south of M.L.K. Junior Drive SE, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the east side of the Georgia Capitol grounds, along the walkway near the east Capitol entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 206 Washington St, SW, Atlanta GA 30334, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William Ambrose Wright (a few steps from this marker); Haralson Bleckley, 1870-1933 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Seal of Georgia (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Kettle Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Eugene Talmadge (within shouting distance of this marker); War Woman (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Georgia Vietnam Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); Atlanta War Memorial (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.
Regarding “Expelled Because of Color”. “Expelled Because of Color” is the name of the 1977 sculpture by John Riddle that is adjacent to this marker. Remarks in the Smithsonian Institution’s Art Inventories Catalog:
The sculpture was created to commemorate the Black Legislators in Georgia during Reconstruction who were [expelled from] the State Capitol because of the segregation laws which still existed. The progression of people in the sculpture echoes a traditional African theme and symbolizes the rise of African Americans from their arrival on slave ships (indicated at the bottom),to their freedom after the Civil War, indicated by the figures on the top reaching up to an outline of the state of Georgia which is tightly bound by a belt. The sculpture was originally intended to be placed indoors, but was moved outside because of controversy.
Also see . . . The "Original 33". The "Original 33" were the first 33 African-American members of the Georgia General Assembly who were elected to office in 1868, during the Reconstruction era. They were among the first African-American state legislators in the United States:
Eli Barnes, Hancock County • James Ward Porter, Chatham County • Henry McNeal Turner, Bibb County • William Guilford, Upson County • William Henry Harrison, Hancock County • Thomas M. Allen, Jasper County • Thomas Beard, Richmond County • Edwin Belcher, Wilkes County • George H. Clower, Monroe County • Abram Colby, Greene County • Romulus Moore, Columbia County • John T. Costin, Talbot County • Madison Davis, Clarke County • Monday Floyd, Morgan County • F. H. Fyall, Macon County • Samuel Gardner, Warren County • William A. Golden, Liberty County • Ulysses L. Houston, Bryan County • James M. Simms, Chatham County • Philip Joiner, Dougherty County • George Linder, Laurens County • Robert Lumpkin, Macon County • Peter O'Neal, Baldwin County • Alfred Richardson, Clarke County • Alexander Stone, Jefferson County • Abraham Smith, Muscogee County • John Warren, Burke County • Samuel Williams, Harris County • Tunis Campbell Jr., McIntosh County • Malcolm Claiborn, Burke County(Submitted on February 22, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
State Senators
• Tunis Campbell, Liberty County • Aaron Alpeoria Bradley, Chatham County • George Wallace; Hancock, Baldwin, and Washington Counties
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 981 times since then and 99 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week August 28, 2022. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 22, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on August 18, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.