Georgia county's transformation from dark past shakes local resident
A quarter-century ago Forsyth County Georgia started changing its image as an all-white community. The areaʼs complex history includes forced displacement and civil-rights protests that changed everything
When Cary Green settled in Forsyth County Georgia about 25 years ago‚ the area was still dealing with its dark past as a whites-only suburb. Located just 40 miles north of Atlanta this community had a troubling history that stretched back many decades
The countys transformation began after a tragic event in early 1900s‚ when white mobs forced-out all Black residents (making it what was known as a sundown town). For many decades after that the area stayed almost completely segregated; with unwritten rules keeping it whites-only until the late 80s
The situation reached its peak in 87ʼ when civil-rights activists organized street protests to highlight the areas ongoing segregation. A violent show-down happened between protesters and local white-residents — some wearing KKK robes and shouting hate-speech. The conflict drew nation-wide attention: especially when counter-protesters carried signs promoting racial separation
