The songs they sing say it loud and clear, freedom, something we often take for granted today. But 50years ago, many people weren't free. On this Thursday, 50 years ago, local black leaders officially organized the Albany Movement and elected Dr. William Anderson its president.
Dr Anderson says, "I cannot take the credit at all for being the instigator or creator of the Albany movement, actually it was these SNCC students."
Those members of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee helped light a fire that brought people together to stand up for black rights and justice. They marched and picketed, and were thrown in jail.
"This was really one of the watershed moments in modern Georgia history. A community came together and leaders within the community came together to fight segregation," says Randy Gue of Emory University manuscript archives.
Estrella Tipton marched along side Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And Dr. Anderson. She wishes more of today's young people would learn about their struggles.
"Our freedom our ability to go where we want to go sit where we ant to sit I think our children should know that this was not something that was easily obtained, " says Tipton.
There were many milestones made within this era but the black identity was one key point that came forth.
"I'm a person, I'm not a thing,and I'm not a child; I am no longer your servant and I'm no longer your slave, I am somebody, " says Anderson.
Some hope that knowledge of Albany's history will continue to build a strong sense of self.
"You need to know where you come from in order to know where you are going, " says Tipton.
A road that Albany must remember everyday.
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