ATLANTA — Feb. 1 marks the first day of Black History Month, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is kicking off a celebration honoring civil rights icons' contributions to Black history.
Throughout the year, they will celebrate Atlanta civil rights leaders who served, supported and advocated for MARTA with specially designed buses. The buses will feature icons including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Juanita Jones Abernathy, Congressman John Lewis, Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, and Ambassador Andrew Young.
In addition, MARTA will recognize a number of its own "barrier-breaking" employees who have made history within the organization, including several of the first Black bus operators, secretaries, executives and supervisors.
MARTA will also host a series of community events celebrating Black History Month. On Thursday, Feb. 14, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., MARTA's public art program Artbound will perform "Music from the Movement" by Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company at West End Station.
On Thursday, Feb. 29, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., a special Black History Month event will be held at College Park Station featuring live performances, MARTA trivia, and giveaways. Fresh, locally grown produce will also be available by the MARTA market.
If you can't make it to the events, you can still honor Black History Month online through MARTA's trivia campaign on social media or listen to a curated Spotify playlist featuring Black Atlanta artists and
other artists from the height of the civil rights movement.
