ATLANTA — Atlanta has an incredible legacy of civil rights giants who devoted their lives to fighting for justice and freedom.
Many of those trailblazers like John Lewis, Hosea Williams, and Joseph Lowery are no longer living.
So, who is leading the charge today?
11Alive's Jonathan Martin spoke with three Atlanta leaders aiming to carry the torch.
Each of them said they are focused on continuing the movement that Atlanta's past civil rights leaders pioneered. Get a glimpse of their conversations below.
Congresswoman Nikema Williams
“We are going to march and cause that good trouble that Congressman Lewis spoke about, but we’ve got to take it a step further and institute policies that actually change people's lives," said Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams.
Williams succeeded the late Rep. John Lewis in Congress. Like him, she has pushed bills aimed at protecting voting rights.
"When the right to vote is restricted, then you can restrict your right to everything else in this country," Williams said.
Williams is also focused on economic equality issues. She notes Atlanta has one of the largest racial wealth gaps in the country.
"I know, sitting on the house financial services committee, I have work to do,” she said.
Atlanta activist Scotty Smart
Scotty Smart is an Atlanta activist and community organizer. For several years, he’s been vocal about issues affecting Atlanta’s Black community. He stresses the importance of showing up to hold leaders accountable.
"We know we have problems with public housing, we know we have hospital closures, we know we have low income, we now have a terrible minimum wage," he said. "How do we create these differences and whose job is it to hold (them) accountable?"
Smart wants to empower others to realize they can make a difference too - and have a responsibility to.
"If you're not in those rooms, if you're not showing up to council meetings and county commission meetings, then how do you know where these resources lie?” Smart asked.
Hear more of his conversation in the video below:
Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs
Gerald Griggs leads Georgia's NAACP conference. He said the civil rights organization is needed today because of a rise in hate and racial intolerance.
While Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd's cases reenergized civil rights activism and led to changes in police accountability, Griggs said it is important to remember the big picture.
“A viral moment is just that: a viral moment," he said. "We are in a movement. We have to focus to make sure we achieve the goals of the movement."
View Griggs' conversation in the video below:
Continuing the movement
Griggs, Williams, and Smart all agree that just like the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s, the current fight for justice is nuanced with different approaches.
Atlanta's Black leaders forge change through collaboration | A look at history
Each of the leaders feels in order to see lasting change, there must be a greater sense of unity.
"We have a lot of individualism. It's a lot of people who are financially winning in their own space, but you don't have the sense of unity and togetherness that we had in previous generations," Smart said.
Griggs said it's up to the leaders of today to give guidance to those who want to aid in the pursuit of equity and justice.
"Some people feel like they've arrived, and so they're not as clear on the directive and the pathway forward is," he explained. "I do think we are unified for the working class and those hoping and dreaming for that reality that is supposed to be Atlanta."
11Alive invites you to embark on a journey of unapologetic stories that have shaped Atlanta's past, present and future this Black History Month. Check out our collection of stories: "DREAM x DISRUPT: Black Atlanta's Bold Movement" at 11alive.com/blackhistory