"City Elects First Black Mayor"
The newspaper headlines following the October 16, 1973 election announced Maynard H. Jackson, Jr.'s victory. He had become the first African-American mayor of Atlanta and of a major southern city. Jackson campaigned on a platform of leadership, restoring trust in city government and inclusion for all citizens. In the racially-charged run-off election with incumbent mayor Sam Massell, Jackson captured 59.2 percent of the total vote.
It had been just six years since 1967 when Carl Stokes of Cleveland, and Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana were elected as the first African American mayors of any major U.S. cities. Now, in 1973, not only was Jackson elected, but Tom Bradley and Coleman Young were also voted in as the first African American mayors of Los Angeles and Detroit, respectively. Mayor Jackson said of his victory during an April 1974 speech at Chicago State University that it was “the result of long years of fighting and dying for the right to participate in the electoral process.”
The Campaign
During his campaign, Jackson demonstrated a great warmth and humor that matched his impressive physical size – six feet four inches tall and approximately 300 pounds. Jackson’s easy rapport with constituents reflected the influence of John Wesley Dobbs, who advised his grandson that “no matter how high up you got, you never lost the common touch.”
Top left: Jackson with Bill Cosby (left) and Sidney Poitier (right) while in Atlanta to film Let’s Do It Again, circa 1974. While maintaining this common touch, Jackson benefitted from the support of some star entertainers over the years.
Bottom left: Jackson discusses his campaign in this letter to potential supporters.
"It is not solely the culmination of a successful campaign waged against another candidate. It is not just the petty conquest of a choice political plum. This election means more than that, not just to me, but to all of us."
-Victory Statement, October 16, 1973
The Inauguration
Unlike the simple swearing-in ceremonies at city hall of preceding mayors, Mayor Jackson's inauguration reflected the significance of his victory and embraced voters who had supported him. Nearly five thousand people, approximately ninety percent African Americans, attended the gala celebration on January 7, 1974, at the Atlanta Civic Center.