- Created on 08 March 2013
Dr. Roderick D. Badger Recognized on National Dentist Day
Dr. Roderick D. Badger, known as the first African-American dentist in Atlanta, was recognized on March 6 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library for his accomplishments in Atlanta's history and in Black history during a community discussion facilitated by historian Nasir Muhammad.
In collaboration with the Black Mecca of the South Tours, the timely presentation set out to highlight the life of Dr. Badger on National Dentist Day.
"I had to give Mr. Badger some justice and I thought that it would be great to do it on a day where dentists were recognized throughout the country," said Muhammad.
Born to prominent white slave owner Dr. Joshua B. Badger and slave Martha Badger, Dr. Badger was taught dentistry by his father at the age of 16.
Later freed by his father and master, Dr. Badger became the first Black dentist to practice dentistry in Atlanta alongside his white brother. His brother Ralph practiced on 14 Marietta St. and Badger on 39 Peachtree as far back as 1860 during a time when there were only 10 dentists in Atlanta, two of them were Black.
Dr. Badger married in 1855 and had eight children. His son Ralph followed in his footsteps and pursued dentistry but died at the age of 30 and was buried in Oakland Cemetery.
In 1870 Dr. Badger attended the Atlanta University normal school as an English student where he studied alongside Henry Flipper (the first Black West Point graduate), Lucy Laney (opened the first school for Black students in Augusta, Ga), Richard R. Wright (first president of Savannah State) and William Finch (first councilman in Atlanta).
"I learned some things I didn't know, the other parts of the Badgers," said Valerie Gaines-Hall who told the Daily World Dr. Badger was her great, great, great uncle. "Only knowing their names, I didn't know any details about him [Dr. Badger] and his brother Robert. That was very informative for me."
Dr. Badger's historic contribution to society helped to propel other Blacks to pursue dentistry. According to Muhammad's research, in 1905 the state of Georgia had 65 Black doctors seven of them were Black dentists. In 1930 there were 193 Black doctors 60 Black dentists.
In 1855 there were 18 free Blacks; Dr. Badger was one of those free men.
"There are a thousand plus a thousand stories about our history, these figures that were remarkable in times that you really would not expect like in the 1800's and the 1900's,"said Dr. Stephanie Dunn, a Professor at Morehouse College.
Muhammad revealed Dr. Badger was as successful during that time because his father, Dr. Joshua B. Badger who was the first dentist to practice in Atlanta, was extremely influential.
Dr. Badger, who was the first Black trustee for Clark University, was an aide to confederate officer Captain Milton A. Candler who is the brother of Asa Candler, founder of Coca Cola and the historic Candler Park's namesake.
Additionally, Dr. Badger was part of Freedman's Savings and Trust which paved the way for black owned and operated Atlanta States Savings Bank and later Citizens Trust Bank. In 1872 he was chosen as a district six alternative delegate for the Democratic National Convention.
"My mission is to restore and gather back those forgotten people, African Americans who were involved in bringing forth the movement that King endorsed and was born from," said Muhammad. "There is a tremendous amount of accomplishments from African Americans from the reconstruction era to the modern civil rights movement and that gap of history is practically forgotten, especially when it comes to Atlanta," noted Muhammad.
Dr. Badger died in 1890 in his home on 46 East Harris St. in NW Atlanta.
- Created on 08 March 2013
Lower Eligibility Requirements for HOPE Grant Passed by Ga. House
It was nearly unanimous. On Thursday, Democrats and Republicans in the Georgia House united and passed a bill that is expected to significantly increase the number of students able to pay to attend technical college. The House passed a bill that lowers the eligibility requirements for the HOPE Grant.
The bill passed 169 to 1 and will lower the GPA eligibility requirement from a 3.0 to a 2.0 for the grant. If approved by the Senate, the change would return to the requirements that existed before overhauls to the program in 2011. The HOPE Grant is different than the HOPE Scholarship Program. It previously had no GPA requirement.
Democratic Representative Stacey Evans was one of the driving forces behind the bill and told WABE about why she was so strongly in support.
"Most students that attend our technical colleges are from families with household incomes of less than $40,000 and many of them with household incomes of much less than $40,000," said Evans, "so the ability of them to get the grant now even with a 2.8, or a 2.5, or a 2.3, will allow more students to go college and allow them to recognize the dream of being part of the middle class."
The HOPE Grant covers tuition, HOPE-approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance of up to $100 per quarter for the state's technical schools. Full-time enrollment is not required and students are not required to graduate from high school with a specific GPA, however, they were required to have a postsecondary cumulative 3.0 GPA, at certain checkpoints, in order to maintain eligibility, according to GACollege411.org.
Supporters say the change was needed because after the state raised the standards, enrollment at the state's technical colleges went down and large numbers of technical college students began dropping out.
Evans and other House Democrats had been pushing for the bill for several years, but this year they were able to team up with Governor Deal and House Republican leaders to get it passed.
- Created on 07 March 2013
Health Services Encourages Women to Protect Against HIV/AIDS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2010, women and girls made up two-thirds of people who got HIV/AIDS by having heterosexual sex. Women of all ages can get HIV/AIDS through heterosexual contact or injection drug use and they account for approximately one-quarter of all HIV diagnoses.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to "Share Knowledge. Take Action." The nationwide observance held each March 10th sheds light on the disease's often overlooked impact on women and girls and empowers people to make a difference. Fulton County Health Services provide education, testing and counseling to battle this serious public health issue.
On Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30p.m. Health Services will provide HIV testing and sponsor a Workshop/Presentation at the Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Teen Summit that will be held in the Carl and Mary Ware Academic Building on the CAU campus. The Summit is sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Atlanta.
According to the CDC, today, women represent a larger share of new HIV infections than they did earlier in the epidemic, with nearly 280,000 women living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Women of color are particularly affected, as they accounted for two-thirds (64 percent) of new AIDS diagnoses among women in 2010.
The Communicable Disease and Prevention Branch of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness encourage women and girls who are sexually active to take action to learn about HIV/AIDS and to take the necessary steps for prevention and protection. Getting tested has more benefits than not knowing if you have HIV or an STD.
- Created on 07 March 2013
SNCC's ‘Bloody Sunday’ March Took Place 48 Years Ago Today
The historic “Selma to Montgomery marches,” with the first of the three protest marches known as “Bloody Sunday,” highlighted a turbulent time of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) led voter registration drives in the small town of Selma, Ala., with the intent of combating White resistance
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- Created on 07 March 2013
City of Atlanta is a Finalist for Green City Award
The City of Atlanta has been selected as a Green City Award finalist by Waste & Recycling News for outstanding leadership and commitment to the introduction, education and implementation of a successful residential recycling program.
The Green City Awards recognize cities that are setting an example in reducing waste and boosting recycling efforts. As a finalist, the City of Atlanta will be honored at the Green City Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 21 at the Residential Recycling Conference (RRC) to be held March 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago.
One winner will be named from the three finalists in each category of small, mid, and large sized cities. Winners are decided by popular vote of the RRC attendees. If selected, the city will also be featured as a finalist in the March 18 issue of Waste & Recycling News.
"Atlanta is on its way to becoming a top-tier city for sustainability," said Mayor Kasim Reed. "We have made incredible strides in our recycling efforts, and this recognition further demonstrates our commitment to making our city a better place to live, work and play."
"The Department of Public Works is proud to represent the City of Atlanta at the Green City Awards," said Deputy Public Works Commissioner Dexter C. White.
"As the department responsible for overseeing residential recycling, we could not have been happier when our City was selected as a finalist for innovation in expanding recycling education and outreach. The success of the Cartlanta initiative reflects the support of our customers citywide who are getting into recycling and furthering the city's goals towards sustainability."
Commissioner White will appear as a guest speaker at the conference to share information about the City of Atlanta's commitment and dedication to recycling.
In October 2012, the city launched Cartlanta, an expanded residential recycling program with the intent to educate and improve recycling rates citywide. New 96-gallon recycling carts were delivered to 65,000 households at the rate of one thousand per day.
City of Atlanta residents generate about 96,000 tons of trash annually, which costs the city $7 million a year to dispose of in landfills. Currently, residents only recycle 12,000 tons annually, which leaves much room for improvement. Since the launch of Cartlanta, recycling rates have improved significantly.
