Local Couple Tells Story of Desegregation in Emmy-Nominated Film

Herren’s was an Atlanta restaurant that made history by becoming the first in Atlanta to integrate their dining room—an important victory for the Civil Rights movement that hasn’t gotten as much attention as others in that tumultuous time in history. Until now.

Suzan Satterfield and Allen Facemire, Norcross residents and owners of SaltRun Productions, will be showing their film “Herren’s: A Sweet Southern Spirit” as part of the first Norcross Filmmaker’s Showcase on Jan. 22. “We thought it was an interesting way to talk about desegregation—through food,” said Satterfield. “It has really been an honor for us to tell this story,” she later added.

The filmmakers, who already showed the film on public television, were nominated for an Emmy for the film. They have also produced 66 environmental adventure shows from Turner South and recently completed a projects for the DIY Network and HGTV.  They say that their goal is to open people’s hearts and minds to new ideas through film.

Ed and Jane Negri, owners of Herren’s, really became a “lightning rod,” for the racial tensions in the city, according to Satterfield, eventually losing their storied Atlanta restaurant, which had been in the family for generations and was known for its sweet rolls.

The way the integration played out in that restaurant--and in all Atlanta restaurants--really gives insight to the city, Satterfield says. The local restaurant association was watching what was happening in Birmingham at the time and they didn’t want the bad publicity. “They said, ‘We can go quietly,’” she said. “Atlanta is such a business town.” 

Satterfield said that at Negri was at the business meeting and accidentally became the spokesman when he volunteered to speak to a journalist. “Ed was a reluctant hero—he was really just a sweet man,” she said. “He just did what he thought was right." 

Satterfield said that Negri had kept all of the letters people wrote him after his actions, which led to bomb threats at the restaurant, and was able to pour through them with her and her husband. 

Eventually, Herren’s shut down because business just dried up. “There was a perfect storm,” said Satterfield.  Customers stopped coming to the restaurant and white families started fleeing to the suburbs and abandoning the city in general.

The couple was able to speak to Jane Negri before she passed away, and also to give Ed Negri a chance to come to terms with his place in Atlanta history. “He always felt sad about it,” she said. “With the making of the documentary, he finally got to talk about it.”