On Tuesday, the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) announced the honorees for its 32nd Freedom Award. Each year, the museum strives to honor those who have made “exceptional contributions to civil and human rights,” with previous winners including Coretta Scott King, Oprah, Nelson Mandela, and Bono.
This year, three winners have been selected:
- Kerry Kennedy: President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a renowned human rights activist, and lawyer, Kennedy’s tireless efforts span over four decades, championing various causes such as child labor, women’s rights, environmental justice, and more.
- Dr. Clayborne Carson: Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor of History, emeritus, at Stanford University, Dr. Carson’s profound work centers on the study of Martin Luther King Jr. and the human rights movements that his legacy has inspired.
- Stacey Abrams: A bestselling author, civil rights activist, and political leader, Abrams is a trailblazer, becoming the first Black woman to be the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in United States history. She has founded multiple nonprofit organizations dedicated to voting rights and addressing social and economic issues.
The NCRM will host its award ceremony, hosted by actor and philanthropist Tobias Truvillion, on Thursday, October 19th, at the Orpheum Theatre at 7 p.m., and will feature entertainment including poet J. Ivy and Let It Happen. A pre-gala event will take place at 5:30 p.m. next door at the Halloran Centre.
In addition, the NCRM will hold a student forum at 10 a.m. the same day, which “aims to empower middle and high school students to take action and create positive change within their communities,” per the museum.
Tickets for the event will go on sale starting August 1st. For more information about the event, visit freedomaward.org.