United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798Hatfield, Edward A.2007-12-14Encyclopedia article about the Reverend William Holmes Borders, who between 1937 and 1988 served as pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he campaigned for civil rights and distinguished himself as a spokesperson for the city's poor and dispossessed. Born in Macon, Borders graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and then attended Garrett Theological Seminary at Northwestern University where he received his bachelor of divinity degree in 1932 and subsequently accepted the pastorate of the Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois.In 1936, he earned a master's degree from Northwestern. Borders was instrumental in the hiring of Atlanta's first black police officers in the 1940s, led the campaign to desegregate the city's public transportation in the 1950s, and established the nation's first federally subsidized, church-operated rental housing project in the 1960s. Thereafter, he continued to support a variety of philanthropic causes and remained an influential public figure in Atlanta until his death in 1993.The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata.Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.African American clergy--Georgia--AtlantaClergy--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American civil rights workers--Georgia--AtlantaCivil rights workers--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American political activists--Georgia--AtlantaPolitical activists--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American civic leaders--Georgia--AtlantaCivic leaders--Georgia--AtlantaAtlanta (Ga.)--Politics and government--20th centuryAtlanta (Ga.)--History--20th centuryAtlanta (Ga.)--Social conditions--20th centuryAtlanta (Ga.)--Race relations--History--20th centuryRace relationsCivil rights--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--Civil rights--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--Politics and governmentAfrican Americans--Social conditions--20th centuryCommunity life--Georgia--AtlantaPoor--Georgia--AtlantaPoor African Americans--Georgia--AtlantaSocial justice--Georgia--AtlantaSocial justice--Religious aspects--BaptistsEquality--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American police--Georgia--AtlantaPolice--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American criminal justice personnel--Georgia--AtlantaCriminal justice personnel--Georgia--AtlantaAtlanta (Ga.)--Officials and employeesTransportation--Georgia--AtlantaSegregation in transportation--Georgia--AtlantaSegregation--Georgia--AtlantaDiscrimination--Georgia--AtlantaRace discrimination--Georgia--AtlantaBuses--Georgia--AtlantaBoycotts--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--Transportation--Georgia--AtlantaHousing--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--Housing--Georgia--AtlantaLow-income housing--Georgia--AtlantaHousing authorities--Georgia--AtlantaDiscrimination in housing--Georgia--AtlantaHousing management--Georgia--AtlantaHousing subsidies--Georgia--AtlantaApartments--Georgia--AtlantaRental housing--Georgia--AtlantaRental housing--FinanceChurch property--Georgia--AtlantaChurch work--Georgia--AtlantaChurch work--BaptistsChurch work with African Americans--Georgia--AtlantaChurch work with the poor--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American churches--Georgia--AtlantaChurches--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--ReligionStreets--Georgia--AtlantaNeighborhood--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American neighborhoods--Georgia--AtlantaEthnic neighborhoods--Georgia--AtlantaInner cities--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American orators--Georgia--AtlantaOrators--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican American radio broadcasters--Georgia--AtlantaRadio broadcasters--Georgia--AtlantaRadio personalities--Georgia--AtlantaRadio programs--Georgia--AtlantaRadio in religion--Georgia--AtlantaMass media in religion--Georgia--AtlantaRadio broadcasting--Religious aspectsPrimaries--GeorgiaMayors--Georgia--AtlantaMayors--ElectionArrest--Georgia--AtlantaAfrican Americans--Segregation--Georgia--AtlantaSaving and investment--Georgia--AtlantaCredit unions--Georgia--AtlantaEmployment agencies--Georgia--AtlantaJob vacancies--Georgia--AtlantaUnemployed--Georgia--AtlantaDay care centers--Georgia--AtlantaChild care--Georgia--AtlantaUrban renewal--Georgia--AtlantaAtlanta Life Insurance CompanyNonprofit organizations--Georgia--AtlantaFederal aid to nonprofit organizations--Georgia--AtlantaFederal aid to housing--Georgia--AtlantaSubsidies--Georgia--AtlantaOld age homes--Georgia--AtlantaStudent movements--Georgia--AtlantaWheat Street Baptist Church (Atlanta, Ga.)Theology, Practical--Georgia--AtlantaAuburn Avenue (Atlanta, Ga.)Politics, Practical--Georgia--AtlantaLove, Law, and Liberation Movement (Atlanta, Ga.)Ordinances, Municipal--Georgia--AtlantaWheat Street Baptist Church Credit Union (Atlanta, Ga.)Jet, Banks, and RussellWheat Street Towers (Atlanta, Ga.)William Holmes BordersText