Shots in the Back: Exhuming the 1970 Augusta Riot

I learned a lot about Augusta’s history and was blown away by the eloquence, thoughtfulness, & engagement of these students. Hearing young people tackle tough issues was impressive and inspiring. Thank you for the hard work on this!

There was so much to learn here but my biggest takeaway as a GA mother of 3 is how to continue the conversation around race with my kids. Excellent podcast!

If the City of Augusta is to ever realize it’s community vision of “One Augusta”, that “celebrates geographic, socio-economic and racial diversity” the full history of this city’s past has to be told. Not just to illuminate the local story of the area majority, but to speak truth to their experience. As noted by Dr. John Henrik Clarke, “History is a clock that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography. It tells them where they are, but more importantly, what they must be.” I so much appreciate this effort to inform the residents of Augusta, and the greater CSRA region, of the history of the Golden Blocks, that we may one day again find ourselves and define for ourselves who and what we must be.

I live in the area and had never heard of this incident. I appreciate that the children at Jessye Norman were able to participate in the production of this series, yet I am also sadden that they had to realize the [recent] history of the town. Well done podcast series.