Atlanta’s Dark Underbelly: 30 Years of City Planning, but Slums Remain

May 26, 1950 – As Atlanta’s Urban League marked its 30th anniversary, residents were left questioning the city’s commitment to improving living conditions for its African American citizens. Despite the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s efforts to eradicate slums and revitalize the city, the streets of Atlanta still echoed with the cries of those struggling to find decent housing, healthcare, and education. The Urban League’s anniversary meeting at Clark College’s Auditorium drew in prominent speakers, including Phillip Hammer, chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Commission. Hammer presented a vision for a future Atlanta, boasting a population of over 1 million people, with adequate provisions made for housing of all types. However, the harsh reality on the ground revealed a stark contrast to this utopian dream.