Final answer:
Wesley Dobbs named the area surrounding Auburn Avenue 'Sweet Auburn' as it represented the most prosperous African American neighborhood in Atlanta, symbolizing black economic success and cultural richness despite racial segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wesley Dobbs referred to the area surrounding Auburn Avenue as "Sweet Auburn" because it was the most prosperous African-American neighborhood in Atlanta. During a period when segregation laws and the Jim Crow system enforced racial separation, Auburn Avenue stood out as a center of black wealth and culture. This was emblematic of the self-sufficiency and dignity found within black business districts across the United States during that era. Despite the segregation and discrimination that African Americans faced, communities like Sweet Auburn showcased the economic prosperity and cultural richness that African Americans were able to achieve within their own neighborhoods.