Dream Award winner uses research to build community
March 5, 2021
Associate professor Tony Lowe says it’s important to face painful history directly
Isaiah Lofton was appointed by President William McKinley as postmaster of Hogansville, Georgia, in 1897.
Lofton, a black teacher active in the Republican party, wasn’t welcomed into his position. Instead, many white people in Hogansville who were infuriated at the appointment prompted years of hardship and violence toward Lofton, including a boycott of his postal services.
In September 1897, Lofton was shot in an attempted assassination but survived. Today, Lofton is honored with a Georgia Civil Rights Trail historical marker, and the city plans to hire contractor Falcon Design to establish an Isaiah Lofton Memorial Park. That’s all thanks to the dedicated research of Tony Lowe.
Researcher digs deep to add to Georgia’s Black history
February 18, 2021
Tony Lowe was drawn to Isaiah Lofton’s story, enriching the civil rights record
They’d gather at a local diner in Hogansville, Georgia, and whenever they spoke, Tony Lowe listened.
Week in and week out, a collection of older African American men, respected elders in the community, would trade stories about the history and legacy of this tiny town in the western part of the state. Armed with a pen and a pad, Lowe, an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s School of Social Work, would ask questions, take notes and soak in this intimate exploration of the fabric of his hometown.