We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights

Join us for a special tour of Oakland Cemetery's historic African American sections for Juneteenth!

“We Shall Overcome” became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, but the origin of the song dates back to antebellum days and a spiritual sung by enslaved people, “No More Auction Block for Me.” This tour explores the lives and accomplishments of outstanding and ordinary African Americans who fought to overcome the effects of slavery and discrimination to help shape the history of Atlanta.

This tour starts at the Front Gate (main entrance at Oakland Avenue and MLK Jr. Drive) at 10:30 AM. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in at the volunteer desk inside the Visitor Center (located adjacent to the main gate) before meeting at the Front Gate.

Spaces are extremely limited, so we recommend securing your tickets in advance.

Accessibility

Not all areas of Historic Oakland Cemetery are wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you need an accessible route when purchasing your ticket.

ASL interpreter available if given 3 days (72 hours) notice before the start of the tour.