A work of public art representing Black History, Women’s Rights, and Civil Rights
There are untold numbers of both monumental and everyday heroes left out of the annals of history. Equitable representation for women, especially women of color is long overdue, as is recognition of their accomplishments. In addition to being a stunning work of art, the District V Girl Scouts Honor Mural on the sunrise-facing wall of the historic Atlanta Daily World Building at 145 Auburn Avenue in the heart of Sweet Auburn was created to look toward a brighter future.
Built in 1912, the Atlanta Daily World Building is a historic site in journalism and was at one time home to the country’s oldest Black daily newspaper, the building’s namesake. It was also home to another history-making group, District V, Atlanta’s first Black Girl Scout Troop. Established in 1943 by Bazoline Usher, in a time when segregation and discrimination were law, the brave women and girls of District V showed what was possible and helped set the stage for civil rights successes to come.
The mural features Roslyn Pope, an original District V scout, and it captures her spirit and a viewpoint worth celebrating, “The Future Is Bright.” Pope, who dedicated her life to public service, civil rights, and Black rights, was the very definition of representation, and yet relatively few know about her achievements. Especially poignant is her leadership as the primary author of the famed 1960 civil-rights manifesto, “An Appeal for Human Rights” which sparked the Atlanta Student Movement, fueled the national movement, and helped end segregation.
As it happens, another former Girl Scout of Greater Atlanta helped lead the mural’s creation that helps give Pope the recognition she deserves. Helen McGaughy, a preservationist and art enthusiast who serves as Project Associate and Broker for…
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