33rd annual Freedom Awards at Civil Rights Museum
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thursday was the biggest night of the year at the National Civil Rights Museum, for the annual Freedom Award ceremony. This year, the museum honored three people with the Freedom Award: civil and human rights activist and broadcasting executive Xernona Clayton; Sherrilyn Ifill, the president and director-counsel emeritus of the NAACP; and […]
National Civil Rights Museum’s 33rd Freedom Award ceremony honors civil and human rights activists for their work
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of Memphis' most time-honored traditions returned again on Thursday: the 33rd Annual Freedom Awards. For decades, civil and human rights activists have been honored in the Bluff City for their contributions to equity and justice. All of Memphis’ finest made it down to the Halloran...
Spike Lee, Sherrilyn Ifill, And Xernona Clayton Drop Gems As They Accept The National Civil Rights Freedom Award
The National Civil Rights Museum rolled out the red carpet for the 33rd Annual Freedom Awards at downtown Memphis’ on Oct. 17. The evening runneth over with Black pride, Black joy, and most notably, Black excellence, particularly as the tribute relates to its host, the incomparable MC Lyte, Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson, its 2024 honorees: Xernona Clayton, Sherrilyn Ifill, and Spike Lee, and entertainment: Debra Cox, Brothers And Sisters dance troupe, and Gary Goin, and the Freedom Award house band. This elite bunch understands that freedom comes at a cost, and it is their actions—in service of civil rights—that warrant such...
LeVar Burton, Missy Elliott, Spike Lee, And Queen Latifah Receive National Honors
The National Endowment for Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts celebrated their 2022 and 2023 honorees, including LeVar Burton, Queen Latifah, and Spike Lee, at a White House ceremony on Oct. 22. Burton was honored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and received a medal from President Joe Biden. The honor is granted to people who have significantly impacted the arts and humanities. “I am still in the thrall of last night,” Burton tweeted. “One of the best days of my life.” Burton, consistent advocate of literacy for 40 years, is known for hosting the classic children’s TV Show, Reading...