Student activists weaponized Atlanta’s progressive image against its own moderates

Evidence

Instead of negotiations, they issued ultimatums; instead of compromise, they sought confrontation. Most important, instead of helping to promote Atlanta’s positive image, the students shrewdly sought to use that image—and its contrast with reality—to achieve their ends. — Kevin M. Kruse, White Flight, 415

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Business elites backed racial moderation primarily to protect profits — Kevin M. Kruse, White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of…, 88; Progressive students who actually pursued racial equality threatened the social order; Atlanta’s moderate image concealed its status as a center of African American strength — Kevin M. Kruse, White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of…, 40