ATHENS, GA – Historic Athens officially submitted a petition during a Juneteenth festival to name a new downtown pocket park after Athens’ first two Black state representatives. The petition seeks to name the space Richardson-Davis Park, in honor of Alf Richardson and Madison Davis, two African Americans elected to the Georgia legislature in 1868.
A Legacy of Representation
Richardson and Davis’s election followed the Civil War and subsequent Constitutional amendments that granted equal rights to former slaves. This era of legal equality, however, tragically ended with Reconstruction in 1876. With the implementation of Jim Crow laws suppressing Black voting rights, Athens would not elect another African American to the state legislature for a century.
Michael Thurmond, Athens’ third Black state representative, spoke at the ceremony, sharing how he was inspired to run for office after discovering a dissertation about Davis and Richardson at the UGA library in the 1970s. He emphasized the profound connection between Juneteenth and the opportunity for Black citizens to vote and serve in office. Thurmond, who has since written a book on Black history in Athens and had a distinguished political career, most recently ran in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Juneteenth and the Fight for Equality
“Without Juneteenth,” Thurmond stated, referring to the federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the Union army arrived in Galveston, TX, to emancipate the last enslaved people, “there never would have been a right to vote, and they never would have had the opportunity to serve in office.”
The ceremony was attended by numerous current and former Black elected officials, underscoring the significance of the moment. Among them were Athens-Clarke County commissioners Patrick Davenport, Ovita Thornton, and Tiffany Taylor; former commissioner Alvin Sheats; former Clarke County commissioner John Jeffreys; Sheriff John Q. Williams; retired Magistrate Court Judge Patricia Barron; and school board members Linda Elder Davis and Mary P. Bagby.
The New Park and Community Engagement
The newly opened park is situated on a former parking lot adjacent to the Costa Building at the corner of Washington and Lumpkin streets. It lies beneath a vibrant mural by Miami artist Elio Mercado and Athens artist Brodrick Flanigan, which celebrates local Black musicians and entrepreneurs.
The petition, which has already garnered over 1,000 signatures, represents the initial step in officially naming the park. The final approval rests with the ACC Commission, a step that Mayor Kelly Girtz indicated is highly likely to occur.
This initiative highlights Athens’ commitment to recognizing and honoring its rich and complex history, particularly the contributions of its Black leaders. The naming of Richardson-Davis Park will serve as a lasting tribute to these pioneering figures and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and representation.
