International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, which honors some of the activists involved in the Civil Rights Movement and others involved in civil rights activities, was created in 2004 and is located at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta. It consists of a walkable promenade that showcases actual footstep impressions of those honored, marked in granite and bronze. According to the National Park Service, which runs the historic site, the Walk of Fame was created "to give recognition to those courageous soldiers of justice who sacrificed and struggled to make equality a reality for all." Another motivation was to enhance the historic value of the area, enrich its cultural heritage, and make the site a better tourist attraction.
The Walk of Fame is the brainchild of Xernona Clayton, founder and executive producer of the Trumpet Awards and a civil rights figure in her own right. Clayton said, “This is a lasting memorial to those whose contributions were testaments to the fact that human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. This historic site will serve as a symbol of pride and a beacon of hope for all future generations. We are looking forward to building a monument to the civil struggle that depicts every step taken toward the goal of justice and the tireless exertions and passionate concern of these dedicated individuals.”[1]
List of inductees
2004
- Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., civil rights leader who had a close and enduring partnership with Dr. King.
- Juanita J. Abernathy, civil rights activist.
- Ivan Allen, Jr., former mayor of Atlanta during the turbulent civil rights era of the 1960s.
- Julian Bond, civil rights leader.
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States.
- Medgar Evers, civil rights activist.
- Dorothy Height, educator, social activist.
- Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., minister, civil rights activist.
- Judge Frank M. Johnson, United States Federal judge .
- Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States.
- John Lewis, politician, civil rights leader.
- Joseph E. Lowery, minister, civil rights leader.
- Evelyn G. Lowery, civil rights leader.
- Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice (1969–1991).
- Rosa Parks, civil rights activist.
- Hosea Williams, civil rights leader.
- Andrew Young, civil rights activist, former mayor of Atlanta.
2005
- Henry Aaron, baseball player, social activist.
- Harry Belafonte, musician, actor, social activist.
- John Conyers, Jr., politician, social activist.
- Dick Gregory, comedian, social activist.
- Maynard H. Jackson, former mayor of Atlanta.
- Ralph E. McGill, journalist, social activist.
- Fred L. Shuttlesworth, social activist.
- Ted Turner, media mogul and philanthropist.
- Judge Elbert P. Tuttle, former Chief Judge of U.S Court of Appeals (1960–1967).
- Nancy Wilson, singer, social activist.
- Reverend Addie L. Wyatt, Labor leader, civil rights pioneer, pastor.
2006
- Reverend Joseph E. Boone, social activist.
- Reverend William Holmes Borders, Sr.
- Xernona Clayton, civil rights leader, broadcasting executive.
- Lena Horne, singer, actress, social activist.
- John E. Jacob, former president and CEO of the National Urban League.
- Reverend James Orange, pastor, civil rights activist.
- Bernard Parks, politician, social activist.
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African cleric, social activist.
- William Clinton, 42nd President of the United States.
- Stevie Wonder, singer, civil rights activist.
2007
- Lerone Bennett, Jr., scholar, author, historian, social activist.
- Tony Bennett, singer, social activist.
- Marian Wright Edelman, social activist for the rights of children.
- Shirley Franklin, 58th mayor of Atlanta.
- Frankie Muse Freeman, civil rights attorney.
- Joe Louis, boxer, social activist.
- Sir Lynden Pindling, former Premier of the Colony of the Bahama Island (1967–1973).
- Sidney Poitier, actor, social activist.
- Dr. Otis W. Smith, physician.
- Maxine Waters, politician, social activist.
- L. Douglas Wilder, former governor of Virginia.
- Jean Childs Young, civil rights activist/educator.
2008
- Dr. Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, actress.
- Senator Edward W. Brooke, social activist, politician.
- Tyrone L. Brooks, Sr., social activist, politician.
- Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, dancer.
- Jesse Hill, Jr., business executive.
- Dr. Benjamin Hooks, established Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change.
- Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King's attorney.
- Tom Joyner, radio host.
- The Right Honorable Prime Minister Michael Manley, former Prime Minister of Jamaica.
- Herman Russell, Sr., founder and CEO of H.J. Russell & Company.
- Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, executive director of the SCLC 1960-1964.
2009
- Rev. Dr. C.M. Alexander
- Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., entrepreneur.
- Dr. Erieka Bennett.
- Roberto Goizueta, CEO of Coca-Cola.
- Cathy Hughes, entrepreneur, radio and television personality and business executive.
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, basketball great and businessman.
- The Links, Incorporated, non-profit organization of professional African-American women.
- Sam Massell, businessman and mayor of Atlanta.
- Ernest N. Morial, mayor of New Orleans.
- Father Michael L. Pfleger, Roman Catholic priest and social activist.
- Rev. Al Sharpton, social justice agitator and media figure.
- Congressman William L. Clay, Sr., longtime member of House of Representatives from Missouri.
- Rev. C. T. Vivian, minister and MLK associate.
2010
- Congressman James E. Clyburn
- Judge Damon J. Keith
- Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles
- National Newspaper Publishers Association
- Eugene C. Patterson
- Albert Sampson
- Rita Jackson Samuels
- Congresswoman Diane E. Watson
2011
- Arthur Blank
- James Brown
- Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley
- Bishop Neil C. Ellis
- Leon Hall
- Bishop Barbara King
- Marc H. Morial
- Mayor Carl Stokes
- Congressman Louis Stokes
- Henry "Hank" Thomas
2012
- Rev. Willie Bolden
- JT Johnson and the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers
- Rev. Dr. E. T. Caviness
- Dosan Ahn Chang-ho
- Constance W. Curry
- Fred D. Gray
- Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh
- Charles J. Ogletree, Jr.
- Dr. Walter F. Young
2014
- Bishop John Hurst Adams
- Governor Roy Barnes
- John Carlos
- Tommie Smith
- Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas.
- Dr. Norman C. Frances
- Harry E. Johnson
- Representative Calvin Smyre
- Thomas N. Todd
- Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr.
See also
References
External links
Coordinates: 33°45′25″N 84°22′24″W / 33.75694°N 84.37333°W