Civil Rights Tours Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia

Howard K.

We had high hopes for this tour, as we are very interested in history, and the civil rights movement. The tour started out on the wrong foot, because there were several problems with the tour bus.

First, there was no working sound system, and we all struggled to hear our tour guide, Tom. Second, though there was supposed to be an accompanying video, there was no working tv monitor, so, there was no video. Third, the bathroom on the bus didn't work. Lastly, the bus's air conditioning didn't work particularly well and it was quite stifling on the bus.

Enough about the bus. Moving on to the tour, there was some good and not so good.

The good: There was a freedom singer by the name of Sheila who, despite filling in on this tour for the first time, did a great job, singing quite beautifully and repeating things when passengers complained they couldn't hear Tom.

The bus driver, who was also filling in, was conscientious in keeping us safe and as comfortable as possible. Not knowing the route, however, she occasionally missed a turn or a stop and Tom scolded her along the way. All in all, I feel she did as well as she could possibly have done, given the circumstances.

The not-so-good: This could and should have been a great tour. There is rich history to be shared, and Tom has vast experience in the civil rights movement, having worked with Dr. King in the height of the movement. However, the combination of the bus-related problems and some deficiencies on Tom's part got in the way.

Tom failed to compensate for the lack of a working sound system by focusing on projecting his voice or moving about the bus. When passengers asked him to speak up, which happened frequently, he made excuses, blaming his mask, which kept falling below his nose.

In addition, because the bus driver was a fill-in, she didn't necessarily know the route, and Tom would frequently shout out directions, though often in insufficient volume for her to hear him. As a result, Tom clearly became more irritated as the tour proceeds and he often ignored passengers' questions.

As to the content of his presentation, what should have been rich content was not. Tom often spoke of Atlanta sports teams, shared the location of his dentist, or shared his personal opinions of local politics, all of which most passengers felt was inappropriate.

In conclusion, what should have been an interesting and informative your was not. Some of the causes were out of Tom's control, but many were not. In retrospect, given the logistical challenges, Tom should have canceled or rescheduled this tour. As to the Tom-related issues, I hope he'll take this as constructive criticism and improve the tour in the future.

Anne O.

What an amazing tour! I formerly lived in Atlanta and was so pleased with this tour. I went with my parents who are in their 80's. My mother is limited with mobility. The tour was so accessible for her, and the tour guides so helpful and caring with my mother. The information and history shared was enriching and the songs inspiring! Loved this tour! The tour guide, Tom Houck, is a treaure!

Megan A.

Tom was an amazing tour guide! It was a great experience to hear about the fight for civil rights from someone who was up close and personal. On this tour you hear, not only about MLK Jr, but about many black americans who helped lead the civil rights movement. I really enjoyed this tour and considered myself to be relatively knowledgeable on this area but learned a lot during this tour. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about the civil rights movement and its history with Atlanta

Lucas L.

This was a great tour, one of the best tours I have ever experienced because they were told with first hand experiences which gave real insight into the civil rights movement.

Ashley C.

Learned things I didn’t know even after living in Atlanta 16 years. Wonderful guide and experience.

Tiffany M.

You must take this tour. Our tour guide Jeff was very knowledgeable and fun..I know for a fact you will be surprised to learn some things you didn't know.

Annie G.

A lot of valuable information

Kimberly W.

Very informative. Among the more interesting things that I've done in Atlanta.