Andrew Young moved to Georgia when he accepted the position of pastor at Bethany Congregational Church, in Thomasville. Young became active in the Civil Rights Movement and primarily focused on voter registration drives. In 1961, Young resigned from his job and started working for the SCLC and began organizing “citizenship schools” that helped train civil rights volunteers in organizing and taking part in non-violent protest. Young soon became a close associate with Martin Luther King, Jr. During his time at the SCLC, he successfully organized demonstrations and voter registration campaigns throughout the South. He was with Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day he was assassinated.
In 1972, Young began his political career. He was elected as Georgia’s first African American or Black Congressman since Reconstruction. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed him ambassador to the United Nations. Though successful in the position, Young resigned in 1979 after meeting with members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which at the time was considered to be a terrorist organization by the United States.
Young soon returned to politics and was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1981. As mayor, Young was instrumental in the city’s continued growth and national and international prestige. His accomplishments as the mayor of Atlanta include bringing $70 billion in new private investment to the city of Atlanta, 1,100 new businesses and one million jobs to the region. He expanded programs for including minority and female owned businesses in all city contracts. Young tripled college scholarships given to Atlanta public school graduates and was instrumental in overhauling and privatizing Zoo Atlanta and hosted the 1988 Democratic National Convention. After leaving office in 1989, Young continued to work for Georgia’s economic development, served as co-chair of Georgia’s 1996 Olympic committee, and worked as a consultant for many international organizations which he continues to do today.
