Clayton, a civil rights leader and broadcasting pioneer, becomes only the second woman to be honored with a street dedication by the City of Atlanta
ATLANTA --- Mayor Kasim Reed joined members of the Atlanta City Council, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and hundreds of other community and civic leaders today to recognize the contributions of civil rights activist and broadcasting pioneer Xernona Clayton.
Clayton was honored for a lifetime of contributions to community and humanity with the dedication of a street and park plaza at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Baker Street in downtown Atlanta.
“Xernona Clayton’s contributions to civil and human rights for more than 50 years have shaped the Atlanta that we know and love, and for that we owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude,” said Mayor Reed. “She has been a tireless advocate for social and economic justice here and abroad. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to the city, I am delighted that the leadership and dedication she has shown throughout her life of service will now be a permanent part of Atlanta’s historical tapestry.”
At the recommendation of a city commission established to determine an appropriate way to honor Clayton, the Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance dedicating Baker Street at the intersection of Peachtree Street as “Xernona Clayton Way.”
The honorary street sign unveiling at the intersection of Baker and Peachtree streets was followed by the dedication of the Xernona Clayton Plaza in downtown Atlanta’s Hardy Ivy Park, where officials revealed a plaque commemorating Clayton’s lasting legacy in civil rights and broadcast journalism.
“I am extremely honored by this gesture by the Mayor and the City Council,” Clayton said. “To have a street and a park dedicated in my name gives me joy beyond expression. This is a significant moment for me and I am delighted with this signal honor.”
Clayton is only the second woman and the first African-American woman to have a downtown street named after her, following legendary author Margaret Mitchell.
“The Atlanta City Council is pleased to honor a woman who has been instrumental and prolific in shaping our wonderful city and race relations internationally,” said District 10 Councilmember C. T. Martin. “It’s time to recognize the contributions of Ms. Xernona Clayton.”
A native of Muskogee, Okla., Clayton began her career in Chicago working for the Urban League as an undercover agent investigating employment discrimination against African Americans. By the 1960s, Clayton was an active fundraiser for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Through her work with the SCLC, Clayton developed a relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Atlanta.
Among her many efforts, Clayton was instrumental in the desegregation of all Atlanta’s hospital facilities by coordinating the activities of the city’s African-American doctors in a project called the Doctors’ Committee for Implementation. This effort served as a model for cities and states across the country and received recognition from the National Medical Association for its impact.
In 1968, the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan credited her efforts specifically in influencing him to denounce the organization.
Clayton is the founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation Inc. and creator and executive producer of the foundation's Trumpet Awards. Initiated in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, the Trumpet Awards is a prestigious event highlighting African-American accomplishments and contributions.
Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the South's first African-American to host her own television show. She has been widely honored for her contributions to humanity and has received numerous media awards.
Through the Xernona Clayton Foundation, Clayton in 2010 opened a school in Kumasi Ghana, West Africa, which today educates hundreds of students in Atwima-Heman Village, an area where there is a scarcity of educational opportunities.
Tireless and passionate, Clayton, 81, continues her commitment to various civic causes and to fostering global exchange with students here in Georgia and across the nation.
###
For more information about City of Atlanta, please visit
www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26