Celebrating a legacy; The Sherrod Institute holding three-day event

October 19, 2023

Matthew Crumley,

ALBANY, Ga. – More than 60 years after helping lead the Civil Rights Movement in Albany, The Sherrod Institute is honoring many of the men and women who stood alongside them for equality.

I met with Clennon King, a spokesperson for the Sherrod Institute Thursday afternoon about the three day event to honor the work of the Sherrods in the 1960s.

King says the work they did in the Good Life City laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement in major cities like Birmingham and Selma.

“This is the bedrock. This is the holy ground called Albany. And, Sherrod is the one who led the charge at the outset. Granted, he had people here on the ground who were sympathetic. And, so the soil was ready, but he was the one who struck the match…” said Clennon King, spokesperson, The Sherrod Institute.

The three-day event begins Thursday night with a viewing of a documentary The Sherrod Institute was a major part of, called gaining ground that had been shot in south Georgia in 2022…

And, focuses on the Sherrod’s efforts to establish the first black-owned land trust in the country…

And, serving as a means to help black farmers.

“Many of these people are going to be black farmers, who live in the area. Let’s face it, the number one industry in south Georgia is agriculture. And, many of us in some way, shape or form are connected to it. And, so, there are going to be questions. I know there are families out there who are losing their land and that sort of thing,” said King.

But, the documentary isn’t the only thing they’re doing to honor the past efforts of The Sherrod Institute, as they’ll be naming landmarks in honor of the men and women who helped them pave the way decades earlier…

Giving their families closure that everything they put on the line won’t be forgotten.

“Some of them probably went to their graves not getting that thank you. And, so, for their family, it becomes that much more significant. And, so, we salute the Sherrods for doing that. For having the wisdom to make sure that in naming landmarks that they’ll be there in perpetuity…” said King.