John Wesley Dobbs
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Dobbs an African American
civic and political leader, was often referred to as unofficial 'mayor' of Auburn Avenue
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Dobbs, educated at Atlanta Baptist College (which later became Morehouse College
), passed a civil service exam and became a railway mail clerk for the Post Office
in 1903, a position he held for 32 years. Dobbs married Irene Ophelia Thompson in 1906, and they had six daughters, all of whom graduated from Spelman College
and one daughter, Mattiwilda Dobbs
, became a notable opera singer. Dobbs became a member of the Prince Hall Masons in 1911. In 1932, he was elected Grand Master of the Prince Hall Masons (a post he held for the rest of his life).
Believing that enfranchisement was the key to overcoming segregation
, Dobbs started a voter registration drive in 1936 with a goal of registering 10,000 voters. That year, Dobbs founded the Atlanta Civic and Political League, and in 1946 along with A. T. Walden, he co-founded the Atlanta Negro Voters League. During the 1930s and '40s, laws keeping blacks from voting were found to be unconstitutional. Between 1936 and 1946, 20,000 African Americans voters were registered in Atlanta. With the power of the black vote behind him, Dobbs convinced Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield
to integrate Atlanta's police force in 1948 and install gas lights along Auburn Avenue in 1949.
In 1948, Dobbs accompanied Ray Sprigle
, a Pulitzer Prize
-winning reporter for the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, when the reporter disguised himself as a black man and traveled in the South. The 21-part syndicated newspaper series titled I Was a Negro in the South for 30 Days was later released as the book, In the Land of Jim Crow.
John Wesley Dobbs died on August 30, 1961, the same week the Atlanta city schools desegregated. His family home still stands at 540 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue (formerly Houston Street). Houston Street was renamed in Dobb's honor by Maynard Jackson
in 1994. Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta was Dobb's grandson. A statue of Dobbs, erected in 1996, stands along Auburn Avenue.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
civic and political leader, was often referred to as unofficial 'mayor' of Auburn Avenue
Sweet Auburn
The Sweet Auburn Historic District is a historic African-American neighborhood along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, referring to the "richest Negro street in the world". The Sweet Auburn district includes:*the Martin Luther King, Jr...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Dobbs, educated at Atlanta Baptist College (which later became Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
), passed a civil service exam and became a railway mail clerk for the Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
in 1903, a position he held for 32 years. Dobbs married Irene Ophelia Thompson in 1906, and they had six daughters, all of whom graduated from Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
and one daughter, Mattiwilda Dobbs
Mattiwilda Dobbs
Mattiwilda Dobbs is an African-American coloratura soprano and one of the first black singers to enjoy a major international career in opera...
, became a notable opera singer. Dobbs became a member of the Prince Hall Masons in 1911. In 1932, he was elected Grand Master of the Prince Hall Masons (a post he held for the rest of his life).
Believing that enfranchisement was the key to overcoming segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
, Dobbs started a voter registration drive in 1936 with a goal of registering 10,000 voters. That year, Dobbs founded the Atlanta Civic and Political League, and in 1946 along with A. T. Walden, he co-founded the Atlanta Negro Voters League. During the 1930s and '40s, laws keeping blacks from voting were found to be unconstitutional. Between 1936 and 1946, 20,000 African Americans voters were registered in Atlanta. With the power of the black vote behind him, Dobbs convinced Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield
William B. Hartsfield
William Berry Hartsfield was an American politician. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as its 49th and 51st Mayor from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1962, making him the longest-serving mayor in Atlanta history....
to integrate Atlanta's police force in 1948 and install gas lights along Auburn Avenue in 1949.
In 1948, Dobbs accompanied Ray Sprigle
Ray Sprigle
Ray Sprigle was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Sprigle graduated from Ohio State University...
, a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning reporter for the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, when the reporter disguised himself as a black man and traveled in the South. The 21-part syndicated newspaper series titled I Was a Negro in the South for 30 Days was later released as the book, In the Land of Jim Crow.
John Wesley Dobbs died on August 30, 1961, the same week the Atlanta city schools desegregated. His family home still stands at 540 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue (formerly Houston Street). Houston Street was renamed in Dobb's honor by Maynard Jackson
Maynard Jackson
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994...
in 1994. Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta was Dobb's grandson. A statue of Dobbs, erected in 1996, stands along Auburn Avenue.
Sources
- John Wesley Dobbs The New Georgia Encyclopedia.
- Pomerantz, Gary M., Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn: The Saga of Two Families and the Making of Atlanta, Scribner (May 6, 1996).
- John Wesley Dobbs Sweet Auburn Avenue: Triumph of the Spirit.
- The Next Page: Going back to A Negro in the South by Bill Steigerwald for the Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, August 23, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009.