Sweet Auburn Historic District
"Attucks made the down payment on Liberty and Freedom for all members of his racial group who were to live after him in the United States of America. Crispus Attucks made the down payment for you and me, when he died in Boston, March 5, 1770, with a stick in his hand." ― John Wesley Dobbs
Concentrated along a short mile and a half of Auburn Avenue, the Sweet Auburn Historic District reflects the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta's African Americans. The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, referring to the "richest Negro street in the world." Like other black communities throughout the country, Sweet Auburn's success was intricately tied to the residential patterns forced on African Americans during the early 20th century--the result of restrictive laws in southern states which enforced segregation of the races, known as Jim Crow laws. It was here that many African Americans established businesses, congregations, and social organizations.