16 Photos Showing How Black Folks Got Down With Jimmy Carter

The only U.S. president from Georgia obviously was the biggest Georgia Peach of ‘em all! Carter was a known fan of all things Georgia sports. In 1973, Carter joined former Delaware Gov. Sherman Tribbitt and stopped by the Atlanta Braves’ clubhouse to kick it with team legend Hank Aaron.

In 1976, as governor of Georgia, Carter shared a beautiful moment with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s father, Martin Luther King Sr. “Surely, the Lord sent Jimmy Carter to come on out and bring America back where she belongs,” MLK Sr. said to his church audience during Carter’s first presidential campaign. “I’m with him. You are, too. Let me tell you, we must close ranks now.”

Reeling from the killings of several Civil Rights activists and Black Panther leaders like Fred Hampton, Black Americans paid extra close attention to the 1976 presidential election. Here, then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter was seen speaking with Black Americans.

During his 1976 campaign, Carter made it his priority to speak on civil rights concerns and have Black leaders present. During a speech at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, civil rights leaders can be seen watching along as Carter spoke.

The Democrats were more than excited to announce Jimmy Carter as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1976. Here, Carter is pictured next to former Texas Rep. Barbara Jordan, both of them waving to a cheering crowd.

Carter became a longtime friend of the King family after MLK was assassinated in 1968. In 1977, during the first year of his presidency, Carter awarded King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, and his father, MLK Sr., the Presidential Medal of Freedom in King’s honor.

In 1977, President Carter attended the National Urban League (NUL) Conference. The president of the NUL — the New York-based civil rights organization that advocates for the economic and social justice for Black Americans and against racial discrimination — at the time was Vernon Jordan, who died in 2021.

During the White House dinner celebrating the signing of the Panama Canal Treaty in 1977, Carter greeted boxing legend Muhammad Ali. President Carter later received the first ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement, according to Facebook.

In 1980, President Carter announced his executive order to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to the order, Carter’s efforts were designed to “increase the ability of historically Black colleges and universities to participate in Federally sponsored programs,” “eliminate barriers which may have unfairly resulted in reduced participation” from HBCus in federally sponsored programs, and more.

Did you know that President Carter was a huge country music fan? Well, back in 1979, Carter hosted the biggest names in country at the White House for a special celebration. Here, he’s pictured with country music legends Charley Pride and Willie Nelson. The country stars even presented an award especially for Carter for his support of the genre, according to the Guardian. Pride died in 2020 from COVID-19 complications.

President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, made frequent visits to MLK’s church home of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In this photo from January 1979, Carter and Rosalynn are pictured singing hand and hand with Coretta, MLK Sr., Andrew Young, and other civil rights leaders.

Carter, known for his humanitarian efforts, founded the Carter Center with aims “to improve lives by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy and preventing diseases,” according to its website. In 1997, Carter and his foundation visited Liberia during a crucial election season. Carter, then 78 years old, helped monitor the nation’s general election polls.

In 2005, Carter united with Benin’s Nicephore Soglo for a press conference in Monrovia. There, they acted as observers of the Carter Center in Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections.

During the memorial service for the late Coretta Scott King, Carter was pictured shaking hands with Rev. Al Sharpton. On Carter’s 99th birthday, Sharpton took to X to wish the former president a happy birthday. He wrote “Every time I’ve been around you, I leave with knowing I’d been in the presence of a sincere, God fearing man.”

During former President Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign, President Carter always showed up and out in support of the then-U.S. senator. Here, Carter is pictured greeting then-Sen. Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, and her brother Craig Robinson during day two of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

On the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Carter joined the Obamas and former President Bill Clinton on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the occasion.

“He was one of the few presidents who really was an advocate for the Black community out of a pureness of heart,” said the Rev. Bernice King, who leads the King Center that her mother founded. King told AP News that Carter was a “courageous” and “principled” figure who built on her father’s work. She also praised the 100-year-old man for having “genuine” relationships with her mother and grandfather.