Three Atlanta Restaurants That Fueled the Civil Rights Movement

The restaurant scene is an integral part of Atlanta culture. But as important as it is today, it was just as important in the 1960s.

The passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 banned discrimination in public places, including restaurants and hotels. Some of these restaurants opened their doors to both white and black customers — quite a spectacle at the time — and others served as shelters and meeting places for civil rights leaders.

As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and honor the leaders who fought to make it happen, have you ever wondered where they ate? Whether it was a morning meeting or a late night, some restaurants worked diligently to support leaders in their fight and opened their doors to those who needed a meeting place or just a place to eat.

Breakfast: Waffle House

Waffle House has long been an ally of the civil rights movement. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, riots broke out in different cities and many businesses in Atlanta closed their doors out of fear. But not Waffle House.

“We never mistreated anybody, so why should we go home?” former Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers said of the decision in a 2004 interview with the AJC.

In 1961, during the sit-in protests at whites-only restaurants, Rogers kept that spirit alive. At the time, he said, no black person had asked to sit in a Waffle House. When protesters marched toward the Waffle House on Peachtree and 10th Street in Atlanta, Rogers invited anyone who wanted to eat to come in and sit down, whether they were white or black.

“Our job is to make people feel better because they ate with us,” Rogers said.

Lunch: Busy Bee Café

Founded by Lucy Jackson in 1947, the Busy Bee Café was a frequent meeting place for civil rights leaders like Dr. King and John Lewis. The Vine City restaurant serves Southern classics like ham hock, candied yams and oxtail.

Since its opening, famous names like OutKast and former President Barack Obama have also frequented the establishment. Tracy Gates, the current owner and chef, began working at the restaurant when her father took over in 1987.

“The first thing I did was research the story,” she said. “I took it product by product, learning the science behind everything.”

Gates also added a personal touch to the menu by incorporating family recipes, such as his grandmother’s method of brining the chicken overnight.

“(She) would brine it on Saturday night and cook it in a cast iron skillet on Sunday when we got out of church,” Gates said.

In 2022, the restaurant won the James Beard Classic Award. In 2023, Tracy Gates was inducted into the Georgia Hospitality Hall of Fame, a milestone for Black-owned restaurants in Atlanta.

Dinner: Pascal

Paschal’s is arguably one of the most important restaurants linked to the civil rights movement in Atlanta.

Many of the meetings that gave rise to the Civil Rights Act were held late at night in this very restaurant. The Paschal brothers, James and Robert, often paid bail for arrested protesters, and the restaurant served as a meeting place where their families could meet them.

Diners were also drawn to Paschal’s by Robert’s secret recipe of fried chicken, candied yams, peas and collard greens. One such diner was Dr. King, who became a close friend of the Paschal brothers.

Paschal’s brick walls are decorated with photos of famous guests. Several images of Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Sr. and Obama are displayed on the upper level of the restaurant, greeting you as you walk up the stairs. On the back wall you’ll find a textured, framed portrait of Dr. King gazing into the distance, a dream forming just within the Paschal’s walls.

This story is the result of a special collaboration between SCAD and Rough Draft Atlanta. To read more SCAD student stories, visit our SCAD x Rough Draft hub.