GEORGIA’S AMERICAN JOURNEY: First African Baptist Church in Dublin

First African Baptist Church in Dublin is where a 15-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. won an oratorical contest in 1944

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the First African Baptist Church in Dublin stands as a living testament to resilience and the spirit of a community that has weathered centuries of change. The church, built just two years after the abolition of slavery, has witnessed history unfold within its walls and outside them.

The present structure, completed in 1914, became a sanctuary for newly freed African Americans, offering a safe haven during a time of deep-seated racism and violence. Still, the violence sometimes found its way in.

During the Civil Rights era, bullets shattered the stained-glass windows—a stark reminder of the struggle for justice. The holes remain visible today. 

“Back then it wasn’t many churches that you could worship in the Black community, and in Dublin, in particular, First African Baptist Church was the place that the Blacks would come and worship,” Deacon Jerry Davis said.

The church’s most famous moment came in 1944, when a 15-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Dublin for an oratorical contest. King’s essay, “The Negro and the Constitution,” called for true equality and won first place. It was a moment before the speech that would shape his journey and the nation’s future. King was forced to the back of a segregated bus. “

He didn’t want to move, but Miss Bradley convinced him that that was just the way the times were then, and it would be safer for them to just honor the bus driver’s request and move to the back of the bus,” Davis said.

Today, the church continues to play a vital role. Dublin honors Dr. King’s legacy with annual oratory contests, encouraging young people to raise their voices for justice.

Visitors are invited to experience the church’s history through tours and community events. 

“We partner with the church three times a year, in February, April, and August to allow people to come in, participate in the readers theater, listen to the story, not just of MLK giving his first speech here in Dublin when he was 15, but also other civil rights stories from across the nation and others from here in Dublin,” Miriam Lewis, Executive Director for Visit Dublin, said.

The nearby Martin Luther King Monument Park features an audio box sharing stories of King’s early years and the broader Civil Rights movement.

Worship services are held every Sunday at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.