Grace T. Hamilton
Grace T. Hamilton
Grace's father was a professor at Atlanta University and as a result she was raised on the campus in the city too busy to hate.
Hamilton played with the other children of the professors of all races and ages on campus and perhaps these skills helped her negotiate and redesign a city enriched with diversity. Towns Hamilton was a trailblazing civil rights leader, educator, and politician, celebrated for her dedication to social justice and equality.
A graduate of Atlanta University and Ohio State University, she became the first African American woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1965, where she served for 18 years. Throughout her career, Hamilton advocated for fair housing, equitable education, and voter rights, leaving an indelible mark on Georgia's legislative landscape. As executive director of the Atlanta Urban League, she championed employment opportunities and urban development for marginalized communities.
Grace Towns Hamilton’s tireless work and vision helped shape Atlanta’s evolution into a hub of civil rights progress, earning her a legacy as one of the most influential leaders of her time. She was related to former Governor of Georgia Governor Towns.