Black History Today 2024: Shirley Franklin, pioneering leader and agent of change
/Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond and recognizes the people among us who are boldly shaping the future.
“You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
By Marcus Harden
While Black History Today is not “thematic” (beyond the obvious), one thing that tends to run true about history-makers and agents of change is their ability to not only survive, but to thrive; to not only grow, but to help others grow as well; to not only evolve, but to be the spark for continual evolution.
If part of the theme is indeed evolution, no one personifies it more than Mayor Shirley Franklin.
A true legend, pioneer and icon in Atlanta, Mayor Shirley Franklin was born in the city of Brotherly Love. After spending her formative years in Philly, she went on to THE Howard University, where she would study psychology, anthropology and African-American studies. To further her educational endeavors, she would later return to Philly to earn her Masters in Sociology from The University of Pennsylvania.
It’s of no surprise that education and social engineering would become true hallmarks of not only her career but of her life. In the early 1970s, after a brief stop as a professor in Talledega, Ala., Mayor Franklin was inspired by her studies, lived experiences and the passion of knowing throughout history that young people and youth movements have prompted radical change. She helped spark what would become a monumental shift in United States history, as along with Mayor Maynard Jackson and Mayor Andrew Young, for the next nearly five decades, Mayor Franklin found herself woven into the tapestry of what would not only make Atlanta the Black Mecca, but a destination location for community, commerce and people around the globe.
Mayor Franklin’s list of contributions and accomplishments are long, from supporting the infrastructure of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, to bringing the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta, to The Atlanta Beltline, to ethics reform, to leading the way for Atlanta to become one of the most eco-friendly cities in the south, to restructuring and designing Atlanta’s sewer systems. And, of course, the accomplishment that helped shepherd all of those changes was Shirley becoming the first Black female mayor of not only Atlanta, but of any major southern U.S. city.
Mayor Franklin has been written about and covered ad nauseum for her impact and ability to lead positive change, yet what makes her truly special is her ability to never lose the common touch. While the late great Muhammed Ali coined it, and people like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have since used it, Mayor Franklin embodies what it means to be “the people’s champion.”
While many would rest on their laurels with all she has accomplished, Mayor Franklin does not. You will find her organizing career panels with local high schools, at community gatherings lending her name and bringing awareness to purpose-filled causes, all while engaging with her sharp mind and even sharper wit. Her humility and continued passion in pursuit of what’s possible for people is inspiring.
A story to illustrate her humility: Mayor Franklin was emailed by a young man seeking career advice. While she could have forwarded it or ignored it, she went out of her way to not only respond with thoughts and suggestions, but to offer time (in her still very busy schedule) to sit down, have breakfast and brainstorm opportunities and connections. Picture it – Atlanta 2023, Mayor Franklin in a coffee shop, laptop open, taking the time to share her wisdom and resources with a person she barely knows, while concurrently lending hope and promise with that wisdom (and wit) to hold on and continue to fight.
I am sure there are countless more stories like that, because I know that Mayor Franklin has been the wind beneath more wings than just my own (and yes, that “young” man was me, and my heart and spirit needed those few hours more than she ever could know). And of course it is her family, those closest to her heart, that bring out her greatest joy, whether that be time spent with her children or documenting the privilege and joys of being a grandmother.
Mayor Franklin continues to be the active architect of a life that has changed the trajectory of history, and in so doing has been a true model of servant leadership. She is a visionary, she is a revolutionary, she is a change-maker, she is a mother, she is a truth-teller, she is a mentor, she is the epitome of wise counsel, and undoubtedly, she is Black History Today!
Original artwork created by Devin Chicras for the South Seattle Emerald.
