Emma Darnell interview, January 31, 2012
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Harvey Newman and Andrea Young. In this interview, Darnell speaks on her early work as a lawyer for civil and human rights organizations, including the EEOC. She traces her career working for Mayors Samuel Massell and Maynard Jackson, and the obstacles she faced in her attempts to establish equal opportunities for minorities in Atlanta.
Dates
- Creation: January 31, 2012
Creator
- Darnell, Emma (Interviewee, Person)
Restrictions on Access
Available in Reading Room and online.
Biographical Note
Emma Darnell (1935-2019) was the first woman to head a governmental department in the city of Atlanta. A graduate of Howard Law School and Columbia University, Darnell's career began with legal battles for civil and human rights. She worked with the Equal Employment Opportunity Department to build the "Minority Participation Plan" for the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport expansion project. As the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Chair of the Grant Review Board, Darnell contributed to the design, planning, and construction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change. She joined the Fulton County Commission in 1992, where she served for eight terms before her death in May 2019.
Extent
1 Interview(s) (1 folder, audio (47:32 duration))
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
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404-413-2881 (Fax)
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