There’s a running joke among those of us who call Atlanta home: When people ask about moving here, we smile and say, “We’re full.” But please don’t mistake our Southern charm for hostility. We love the transplants, but we loathe the traffic bottlenecks.
Still, as someone born and raised in Atlanta and the surrounding metro area, my frustrations go deeper than the congestion on I-285 or the glamorized depictions of our city on reality TV. What gets under my skin is how often new residents—and even some lifelong locals—fail to invest in understanding the rich, complex history that makes this city more than just a hub for film shoots and trap beats.
Atlanta is a city steeped in legacy. Every corner whispers the stories of civil rights leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and unsung heroes whose shoulders we still stand on. And thanks to people like Dr. Gregory Henley, we have more opportunities to hear those stories told with reverence and clarity.
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Slavery to Legacy: The Alonzo Herndon Story at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. As a Morris Brown College alumna (and I should mention it’s one of the very institutions Alonzo and his son Norris Herndon supported) it felt personal. This wasn’t just a film; it was a homecoming.
Before the lights dimmed, Dr. Henley spoke with the audience about why he chose to chronicle the life of Alonzo Herndon. His passion for preserving Black entrepreneurial legacy was clear, and his storytelling didn’t disappoint.
“Watching this sometimes makes me angry because of some of the parallels of what Alonzo faced and what we are facing today,” Dr. Henley shared with the audience. “This isn’t just a history lesson, it’s a reflection of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.”
That truth echoed throughout the room.
The 45-minute documentary peeled back the layers of a man born into slavery in 1858, fathered by a white slave owner. And showed how he rose from those impossible circumstances to become Atlanta’s first Black millionaire. He left Social Circle, Georgia, with just $11 in his pocket and carved a path from sharecropper to master barber. But Herndon’s barbershops weren’t your everyday neighborhood spots. They catered exclusively to a white clientele and served as funding engines for his other business ventures, including real estate and insurance.
One part of the film that hit me hard was learning how one of his barbers was killed during the Atlanta Race Riots. It was a stark reminder that Black success has always come at great risk.
Herndon eventually founded Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1905—a legacy that continued through his son, Norris. What stood out to me most was learning about Norris’ mother, Adrienne, a teacher and actress who taught at Atlanta University (now Morris Brown College) alongside none other than W.E.B. Du Bois. It was Adrienne who first exposed Alonzo to Du Bois and the Niagara Movement, which eventually laid the foundation for the NAACP.
These weren’t just historical footnotes. These were names and institutions that helped shape my own educational and professional journey. To see that legacy presented with such care reminded me how interconnected our past and present truly are.
The film also reinforced just how instrumental the Herndon Family was in creating Atlanta’s Black middle class. Their support for HBCUs, charitable organizations, and the church wasn’t just philanthropic, it was revolutionary.
Hearing reflections from leaders like Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Dwight Andrews, and Dr. Hermon Mason Jr. only added more depth. Their insights confirmed what many of us already know but need to be reminded of: that our ancestors’ stories are blueprints for resilience, entrepreneurship, and excellence.
Dr. Henley’s work should be required viewing in classrooms across Georgia. After watching the film, I shared with Dr. Henley how critical it is that we have more education about our historical business success stories.
There are so many people moving to Atlanta every single day. But my hope is that they don’t just move to this city—they become a part of it by learning about the people who built it. People like Alonzo Herndon.
To say I left the screening inspired would be an understatement. I left recharged. Grounded. And prouder than ever to be a daughter of a city forever tied to the Herndons’ legacy.
To learn more about the film, how to sponsor, or to watch the trailer, visit www.slaverytolegacy.com.
