Which Georgia governor, taking office in 1966 amid desegregation tensions, opened Pickrick Cafeteria and appointed many African Americans to government positions?

• A. Lester Maddox
• B. Newt Gingrich
• C. Sonny Perdue
• D. Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Answer: (A)

This item tests how a Georgia leader’s actions during the desegregation era reflected a shift in state governance. Lester Maddox fits the description because he became governor amid intense desegregation tensions and is famous for the Pickrick Cafeteria incident, a symbol of resistance to integration. Yet once in office, he appointed many African Americans to state government positions, showing a notable move toward a more inclusive administration despite his earlier stance. The other figures don’t match this combination: Newt Gingrich became a prominent politician later and isn’t tied to the Pickrick or this governor’s record; Sonny Perdue served as governor long after and had a different trajectory; Charlayne Hunter-Gault is a journalist known for civil rights-era university integration, not for becoming governor.