1912: The Forsyth County Expulsion and Its Aftermath

Four days before Christmas in 1957, Clarence Horatious Pickett, a preacher and newspaper ad salesman in Columbus, Georgia, walked into town to pick up his paycheck. Forty-eight years old and known as “Reverend” to many, the tall, lean man with wire-rimmed glasses left his home and headed toward  The Columbus World , a black newspaper where Pickett worked. Pickett, who’d...

A live panel discussion moderated by Rose Scott and featuring voices from series. In this bonus episode, Scott leads an insightful conversation with Sophia Dodd, co-host of 1912 , Monica Goings, a researcher from Clark Atlanta University, and descendants featured on the podcast, Elon Osby, Charles Grogan, and Chase Evans. Panelists talk about origins of the podcast and myths surrounding Lake Lanie...

In the final episode of 1912, hosts Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd reflect on Forsyth County’s journey from the violent expulsion of its Black residents in 1912 to today’s ongoing struggle for justice and reconciliation. The episode opens with the story of Alexander Akers, a biracial student who grew up in Forsyth County during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Akers endured relentless racism, highlight...

In Episode 4 of 1912, hosts Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd look at the legacy of the 1912 expulsion, tracing its ripple effects into the 1980s and culminating in the powerful 1987 Brotherhood March. The episode opens with a reflection from Patrick Phillips, who recalls his realization of Forsyth County’s violent past when his family moved there in the 1970s. Even decades after the mass expulsion of mo...

In this episode of 1912, hosts Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd investigate the myths and realities surrounding Lake Lanier and its connection to the 1912 expulsion of Black residents from Forsyth County. Over time, these myths have transformed a brutal history into ghost stories, but the trauma endured by Black families during and after 1912 remains undisputed. The podcast addresses the persistent lege...

In the second episode of 1912, Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd peel back the layers of history to reveal the personal stories of some of the Black families exiled from Forsyth County. The episode opens with Elon Osby recounting the life of her grandfather, William Bagley — a man who, alongside his wife Ida, embodied the promise of post-Emancipation life in Forsyth. Born into the first generation of fre...

In the inaugural episode of Atlanta History Center’s "1912" podcast, hosts Rose Scott and Sophia Dodd delve into one of Georgia’s most unsettling events. The episode transports listeners to the racially charged atmosphere of Forsyth County in 1912 — a year marked by the violent expulsion of the county’s Black residents. Accusations by white women against Black men ignited a wave of racial violence...

1912 tells the story of the expulsion of more than 1,000 Black residents from Forsyth County, Georgia and its lasting impact on the families affected. We’ll explore how a combination of popular myth and generations of displacement contributed to the attempted erasure of an entire Black community. A limited series from Atlanta History Center and WABE . Premieres November 19th. Subscribe now.   See...

1912 tells the story of the expulsion of more than 1,000 Black residents from Forsyth County, Georgia and its lasting impact on the families affected. We’ll explore how a combination of popular myth and generations of displacement contributed to the attempted erasure of an entire Black community. A limited series from Atlanta History Center and WABE . Premieres November 19th. Subscribe now. See om...

1912 tells the story of the expulsion of more than 1,000 Black residents from Forsyth County, Georgia and its lasting impact on the families affected. We’ll explore how a combination of popular myth and generations of displacement contributed to the attempted erasure of an entire Black community. A limited series from Atlanta History Center and WABE . Premieres November 19th. Subscribe now.   See...