Giving has been at the heart of Black communities for generations, empowering Black families to thrive in spite of systemic barriers designed to infringe upon their liberation and their very existence. Atlanta Habitat Chief Development Officer Candice Jordan shares her perspective about how the rich legacy of Black leaders in Atlanta helped inspire the prosperous philanthropic landscape of our city.
Atlanta’s history is Black history.
Rich with stories of resilience, perseverance and opportunity, Atlanta is a mecca of Black leaders, pioneers, and entrepreneurs inextricably sewn into the fabric of our city.
Atlanta’s Black leaders have been at the center of human rights movements, innovation, and civic leadership for generations — and I’m inspired by the larger-than-life luminaries who have called Atlanta home.
They were titans who fought for civil and voting rights, basic access to education and economic advancement. They risked their lives and their reputations. They invested their personal finances. They were champions who challenged the status quo and braved countless hardships to effect change. Together, they helped build a better Atlanta.
The Spirit of Giving
Moving with a philanthropic belief, purpose and keen execution, their contributions elevate our common understanding of charitable giving — leading us to embrace a commitment to generosity and care that genuinely centers community.
Their galvanizing philanthropic work has been a cornerstone of ideology and practice in Black circles for generations. In these circles, community-centered giving is a cultural norm – one that is often unspoken – and one that deserves more light and widespread celebration.
After all, giving has been at the heart of Black communities for generations. This spirit of giving has empowered Black families to thrive in spite of systemic barriers designed to infringe upon their liberation and their very existence.
A Legacy of Giving
I am authentically inspired by these leaders — leaders who lifted as they climbed, building wealth and opportunity for themselves and for the benefit of the Atlanta community. Their legacies are so deeply ingrained in our city, that I can feel the nostalgia of their Black Excellence everywhere.
If you listen closely, you can still hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Honorable Andrew Young, John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson in intense conversations highlighting hope and discussing determination with the sweet smell of Paschal’s famous fried chicken and golden peach cobbler wafting through the air.
When you look around, you may also see Atlanta’s first Black millionaire Alonzo Herndon amid a bustling Sweet Auburn district full of life and economic vitality.
Close your eyes and it’s possible to feel the enlightening energy of prolific author and academic W.E.B. Dubois as he delivers a lecture at historic Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University).
All of us – no matter our race or ethnicity — stand on the shoulders of these giants. Their legacies and their love for people are threaded throughout every fiber of our city.
Amid the noise of political distraction, contrary to attempts at economic exclusion, and despite the dismissal of equity, I find comfort and inspiration in the prosperous philanthropic landscape cultivated by great leaders in a city that I love. It is a city that is indeed ‘too busy to hate.’
