It’s obvious the AJC reporters are overjoyed about the Coke land deal that possibly sets up an Atlanta civil rights museum:
Following a tradition of landmark gestures to the city, Coca-Cola has agreed to grant a piece of land next to the Georgia Aquarium for an attraction honoring Atlanta as the cradle of the civil rights movement……
Coke’s move continues a legacy of influence and philanthropy that’s raised the city’s profile for generations.
As Greensboro well knows, civil rights museums are in, and Atlanta is way behind the historical trend.
Now Atlanta has the land and, more importantly, Dr. King’s papers. Well, sort of:
The city has not even raised all the money to pay for what is expected to be one of the museum’s central exhibits: the collection of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s papers that were saved from the auction block at Sotheby’s in June. A group led by Ms. Franklin, working through a nonprofit organization, secured a loan for $32 million to buy the papers, which include handwritten notes and original drafts of speeches by Dr. King. About $20 million has so far been raised, including $2 million by Coca Cola.
So if skeptical voters knew $5 million would buy the International Civil Right Museum a share of Dr. King’s papers, would they view the bond proposal differently?
