Final answer:
The Georgia governor who appointed the most African Americans to government positions than all previous governors combined was Lester Maddox. He held the governor's office from 1967 to 1971 and made significant appointments despite his earlier segregationist stance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Georgia governor who appointed more African Americans to government positions than all previous Georgia governors combined was Lester Maddox. Lester Maddox, known for his segregationist views early in his career, took surprising steps towards racial integration during his term as governor from 1967 to 1971. Despite his controversial background, he gained recognition for appointing more African Americans to government positions than all his predecessors combined. This move was a significant one in the context of the civil rights movement, during which the political representation of African Americans was a major issue. One notable historical event related to African American political representation was the brief tenure of Louisiana's Governor, who served for thirty-four days and was the only African American state governor until L. Douglass Wilder was elected in 1989. Another noteworthy aspect is that nearly 800 African American men served as state legislators in the South, with African Americans even achieving a majority at one time in the South Carolina House of Representatives.