The 34th annual Freedom Award ceremony took place at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, celebrating the significant contributions of three distinguished figures in civil and human rights. Honorees included Memphis native Velma Lois Jones, Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League, and Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation.
Velma Lois Jones, a trailblazer in education, made history as the first African American elected president of the Tennessee Education Association and the first woman to lead the NAACP Memphis branch. Reflecting on her humble beginnings, Jones stated, “Coming from nothing. I came from nothing. A little girl in North Memphis.” Her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and inspiration within her community. “They say, ‘What good can come out of North Memphis?’ Well, I am one of those Oprah’s [who say], ‘What good can come out of Nashville?’” she shared with Action News 5.
During the event, Marc Morial addressed pressing issues regarding civil liberties and economic opportunities in today’s climate. “In this moment, this museum and what’s inside there can teach us some lessons, and those lessons are, I think, lessons of courage, and the lesson of not being fearful in a time when Civil Rights and economic opportunity seem to be under attack,” he commented in an interview with WREG News. Morial also expressed concern about the deployment of the National Guard in urban areas, asserting that their presence is “not needed, nor necessary, nor wanted.”
Adding a global perspective, Mark Suzman highlighted the ongoing fight against poverty and racial injustice. With extensive experience in international development, Suzman has been an advocate for the fair distribution of resources. “The world is slashing billions of dollars in global health and development funding, and if these cuts persist, the consequences will be devastating,” he warned, according to the Commercial Appeal. His personal experiences from apartheid-era South Africa further fuel his commitment to equitable social change.
The Freedom Award ceremony is a cornerstone of Memphis’ cultural calendar, serving not only to honor significant achievements but also to inspire ongoing dialogue surrounding justice and equality. Host Larenz Tate emphasized the event’s importance, describing it as an embodiment of hope and a testament to the resilience of the city. “We won’t stop, we won’t continue to stop celebrating who we are and the things that we’ve done, even the fact that so much is going on in the country right now. We have to remember about having that true American dream,” Tate stated, as quoted by WREG News.
As the ceremony concluded, attendees left with renewed inspiration to advocate for civil rights and contribute to the ongoing pursuit of equality, reinforcing the event’s legacy in Memphis.
