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Interview with Arthur Sims, Sr., May 23, 2022

Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia
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00:02:17 - Childhood; Education; Career

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Partial Transcript: "Okay, I was born in a little town in Georgia called Maxey's Georgia."

Segment Synopsis: Sims talks about his childhood in Maxeys, GA, moving to Athens, GA, and his schools in both cities. He discusses his education and career pathway after graduating from Athens High and Industrial School, his experience preaching for numerous churches throughout Georgia, and his involvement in civil rights organizations. He mentions the specific churches he served at over his 60 years of work.

Keywords: AHIS; Athens High and Industrial School; Athens, GA; Augusta, GA; Clarke County, GA; Columbia County, GA; Crossroad Baptist Church; DuPont Foundation; Ebenezer Baptist Church West; Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Pine Hills; First Bryan Baptist Church; First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church; HT Edwards; Interdenominational Theological Center; Martial Arts; Maxeys, GA; Morehouse School of Religion; Mt. Zion Baptist Institutional Church, Orlando, FL; NAACP; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Oconee Baptist Church; Oglethorpe County, GA; Paine College; Radio Announcer; Reese Street; Rev. WF Billups; SCLC; Savannah, Georgia; Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Taekwondo; Televised Ministry; Union Baptist Institute; Washington, GA; Wilkes County, GA

00:10:45 - Family Careers and Education

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Partial Transcript: "Blessed were the children, I have four children..."-

Segment Synopsis: Sims talks about his four children and their collegiate and career accomplishments. He also mentions his deceased first wife and his present wife.

Keywords: Alandus Sims; American Military University; Artarshia Sims; Arthur Sims II; Cornell School of Law; Jeane Stephens; Jerrie Coleman Sims; Morehouse College; Morehouse School of Religion; Ocoee, Florida; Orlando, Florida; UGA Football; University of Central Florida School of Hospitality; University of Florida; Winter Garden, Florida

00:15:31 - Education; Civil Rights in Athens

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Partial Transcript: "It's Oconee... in Oglethorpe County. It bears the same name of the church Oconee Baptist Church."

Segment Synopsis: Sims recalls that his childhood schools were segregated but that his sister, Fannie, integrated her public school years later. He mentions the protests and civil rights initiatives started by the NAACP as it established a branch in Athens. He also remembers the protest at The Varsity on Broad Street and the KKK member who counter protested with axe handles.

Keywords: Athens High and Industrial School; Axe Handles; Charlayne Hunter-Gault; Ebenezer Baptist Church; Fannie Sims Smith; Hamilton Holmes; Integration; KKK; Ku Klux Klan; Lester Maddox; NAACP; Segregation; The Varsity; University of Georgia

00:23:07 - Lester Maddox; KKK

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Partial Transcript: "Tell me about the Lester Maddox axe handle."

Segment Synopsis: Sims explains the background of Georgia Governor Maddox’s axe handles and his promotion of their use to keep eating establishments like his Atlanta restaurant segregated. Sims also recalls a night when a Black colonel was shot and killed by a Klansman driving home on Danielsville Highway. He says that later in his life he found out that there was a KKK meeting place disguised in a shop located within the Black community of Athens.

Keywords: Ax Handles; Axe Handles; Demagogue; Governor Lester Maddox; KKK; Ku Klux Klan; Maddox Drumsticks; Racism; Segrationist; Segregation; The Pickrick; Violence; West Broad Street

00:25:45 - NAACP Leaders; Black Businesses

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Partial Transcript: "You mention... the NAACP being formed in Athens during that time..."

Segment Synopsis: Sims talks about his role in the Athens NAACP and two notable branch leaders that he worked and traveled with. He also recalls some areas of Athens that were predominantly owned by Black businessmen. He mentions Dr. Green’s Susan Maternity Center, see Green family interviews for more information.

Keywords: Callaway Corner; Calloway Corner; Chase Street; Dr. Green; Dry-Cleaners; Ebenezer Baptist Church West; Hancock Street; Hill First Baptist Church; Hot Corner; NAACP; Restaurants; Rev. William Hudson; Reverend Hudson; Rosa Buffington; Rosa Rodgers Buffington; Susan Maternity Center

GPS: Calloway Corner
Map Coordinates: 33.969865657751946, -83.38360607767085
00:28:32 - Jobs During Youth

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Partial Transcript: "What type of jobs did you have.. growing up?"

Segment Synopsis: Sims describes the jobs he had on his family’s farm as well as those he had in Athens during his high school years. He explains the reasons for his short-term return to Athens one summer during college.

Keywords: Athens, GA; Black Land-Owner; Charge Account; Civil Rights Movement; Cotton Gin; Cotton Picking; Farm Life; Oglethorpe County, GA; Summer Jobs; The Varsity protest; Trustworthy

00:33:49 - Influential Figures

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Partial Transcript: "Mention to me some of the teachers that you had in high school that made an impact in your life."

Segment Synopsis: Sims reflects on the people that influenced his life, including teachers, pastors, and mentors.

Keywords: Athens High and Industrial School; Carrie Billups; Civil Rights Movement; Clara B. Smith; Ebenezer Baptist Church West; HT Edwards; Howard Stroud; Jewel McAdams; Martha Swinton; NAACP; Rev. Billups; Rev. Hudson; Rev. R. B. Hawk; Reverend William James Hudson; Rosa Buffington

00:40:40 - Black-Owned Businesses and Property

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Partial Transcript: "Callaway Corner and Hancock Corridor..."

Segment Synopsis: Sims describes the Black-owned businesses in Athens, especially those on Hancock Street and on Callaway Corner. He mentions specific business and their owners that he and his family frequented.

Keywords: C. T. Walker; Callaway Corner; Calloway Corner; Dr. Green; Ebenezer Baptist Church West; Herman Sheats; Moon's Barber Shop; Property Ownership; Reverend Moon; Sheats' Barber Shop

GPS: Location of Dr. Green's Susan Medical Center
Map Coordinates: 33.956251, -83.391766
00:46:16 - Advice for Next Generation

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Partial Transcript: "If you were talking to the young people... what advice would you give them?"

Segment Synopsis: Sims provides advice to future generations regarding maintaining respect and knowledge of their history and explains that knowing the past better prepares people for their future.

Keywords: African American History; Demagoguery; Liberating Theology; Politics; Social Justice