On this date in 1970, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, a prominent educator, minister, and civil rights leader, was named president of the Atlanta Board of Education on January 2, 1970. His appointment was historic, as he became the first Black president of the board, marking a significant step in the fight for educational equality in the segregated South.

Mays, who was President-Emeritus of Morehouse College, was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a lifelong advocate for social justice and educational reform. His leadership in Atlanta’s education system helped push forward efforts to desegregate schools and improve educational opportunities for Black students.

At the time, the United States population was approximately 293.2 million, with the Black population at 22.6 million (11.1%). His appointment symbolized progress in a changing America, where African Americans were gaining more leadership roles in public institutions.