In the heart of Atlanta beats the drum of a man whose vision transformed not just the city's skyline, but its very essence. Mayor Maynard Jackson, all things hope and progress, dared to dream of an Atlanta where everyone had a seat at the table, where love and inclusion flourished, and where barriers were dismantled with courage and conviction.
Valerie Jackson, the former mayor’s widow, shares tender recollections that paint a vivid portrait of a man who loved Atlanta with every fiber of his being. She reminisces of weekends spent exploring the city's nooks and crannies, accompanied by the melodic strains of "Take Six" and the laughter of their daughters. But amidst the beauty, Maynard's keen eye sought out imperfections, not out of disdain but rather an unyielding desire to make Atlanta better.
Through Jackson’s endless prose for a love deeply rooted in her husband, we catch a glimpse of Maynard's boundless compassion and his unwavering commitment to justice. His vision for Atlanta was not just about buildings and highways; it was about people—Black and White, rich and poor—coming together in unity and understanding. He envisioned a city where the politics of inclusion reigned supreme, where every voice was heard, and every dream had the chance to flourish.
And then there was THE airport—Maynard's crowning achievement, his monument to progress. With tenacity and resolve, he overcame obstacles that others deemed insurmountable, constructing alliances and blazing trails to make his vision a reality. His insistence on having his name grace the airport wasn't vanity; it was a testament to his belief that representation matters, that every child who passed through those gates would know the name of a leader who dared to dream BIG.
Maynard's legacy transcends concrete and steel; it lives on in the hearts of every Atlantan who walks a little taller because of his vision. It's in the single mother who finds a job at the airport, in the child who dreams of soaring to new heights, and in the community that rallies together to overcome adversity.
“Maynard quoted Hartsfield’s motto, ‘Atlanta is a city too busy to hate.’ That may have been true,” Valerie Jackson said. “But Maynard questioned whether we were a city ‘too busy to love,’” she continued. “He felt love, among other things, was fair housing for all, good education for our children, and equal access to economic opportunities for minorities and women.”
Most poignantly, she said, “Maynard would be proud to see that Atlanta has prospered well acting on the politics of inclusion.”
As we gaze upon the skyline he helped shape, let us not just see buildings and highways, but the embodiment of a dream—a dream of a better, brighter Atlanta, where all are welcome, and all are loved. In the words of Maynard Jackson's beloved wife, let us honor his memory by striving to make his dreams our reality, one step, one heart, at a time.