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Dorothy Height was an educator and social activist who focused on civil rights as well as women's issues, particularly for African-American women.

Known as the "Conscience of the South," Ralph McGill was an editor and publisher of the Atlanta Constitution whose fiery editorials advocated for integration.

The Rev. James Orange was arrested more than 100 times and survived more than nine beatings for the cause of civil rights.

California congresswoman Maxine Waters was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Alicia Boler-Davis is one of the top 20 executives for General Motors. As senior vice president for global quality and customer experience, she oversees 2,500 employees.

Who’s Who on the Civil Rights Walk of Fame?

Atlanta’s International Civil Rights Walk of Fame honors some of the activists of the civil rights movement as well as others who supported Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality for all. The Civil Rights Walk of Fame is, indeed, a walkable promenade near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site that features actual granite and bronze footstep impressions of those honored.  

Many of the names are familiar, such as famed athletes Magic Johnson, Hank Aaron and Joe Louis; Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; and entertainers Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., NeYo and Sidney Poitier. Others are well known for their business, literary and political accomplishments. Those include Ted Turner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Maya Angelou, Sen. Edward Brooke, Tom Joyner, Roberto Goizuetta, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Rosa Parks.

Others may not be as well known but their contributions are no less admirable and inspirational. Here are the stories behind some of the footprints, one person for each year since its start in 2004.

Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications. 

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