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When people think of Black history, they may primarily associate the month with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While King was a pivotal leader in the civil rights movement, he did not champion nonviolent resistance alone. Many places in Georgia were home to Black civil rights advocates who played key roles in the movement. Some of these advocates hailed from small towns. James Cooper, Probate Judge of Macon County, Alabama, shared his insights on Hosea Williams, a prominent civil rights activist.

Cooper often speaks about Williams when invited to the Attapulgus Community Group Committee. He expressed heartfelt thanks to members Yvena Merritt, Attapulgus Mayor Art King, Celestine Andrews, Chester Holly, School Board Member Kelvin Bouie, Maggie Harris, Oscar Harrell, Pastor Larence Thomas, Pearl Coachman, and Tremayne Campbell for inviting him to a second year as a guest speaker.

Hosea Williams was born on January 5, 1926, in Attapulgus, Georgia, where he was raised by his grandparents, Turner and Lela Williams. Cooper, born in Amsterdam, Georgia, to Felton and Lauren Cooper, was raised in Attapulgus by his grandmother, Claudia Cooper, and his two aunts, Annie Cooper and Essie Mae Williams. Growing up in a historically rich yet racially segregated South, Cooper recognized the immense sacrifices that activists like Williams made to ensure that African Americans had a voice in democracy.

Williams was a civil rights leader, activist, and strategist for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Cooper stated that Williams’ work made him one of the most fearless figures in the movement. He was dedicated to voter registration, nonviolent protests, and direct action campaigns that forced the nation to confront racial injustice. Cooper described Williams as an “unrelenting force of justice.” He commented, “Williams did not waver in the face of violence or opposition. His willingness to stand at the forefront of the movement, even when it put his life at risk, demonstrated unparalleled courage and determination.”

One of Williams’ defining moments was leading the first Selma-to-Montgomery march on Bloody Sunday alongside John Lewis and Amelia Boynton Robinson. Alabama state troopers violently attacked the marchers, exposing the brutality of segregation to the world. Williams was also the plaintiff in Williams v. Wallace, the case that legally challenged Alabama’s attempt to block the march. The case played a crucial role in securing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passage. Williams’ actions not only challenged racial injustice but sometimes put him at odds with more moderate civil rights leaders. Cooper noted that one of Williams’ most memorable moments was the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was a decisive moment in American history, as his resilience inspired a national outcry, which led to legislative action.

As a public servant in the judiciary, Cooper appreciated Williams’ fight for equal access to the ballot box. He stated, “His life’s work reminds me that the rights we enjoy today were not freely given—they were fought for. His examples motivate me to continue advocating for fairness, justice, and civic engagement in my community.”

While progress has been made, challenges like systemic racism, economic inequality, and social injustice still exist. Cooper stated that Williams didn’t wait for the system to change—he forced it to. His story teaches us that standing up against injustice, even in the face of violence, can lead to historic progress. Cooper encouraged, “Never stop fighting for what is right. Stand strong, speak out, and demand justice, no matter the cost. Your rights exist because someone fought for them—now it’s your turn to continue the fight.”