For decades, women have been overshadowed when it comes to telling the history of the civil rights movement.
The Atlanta-based National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) took a big step to remedy that omission during its sold-out May 17 Power to Inspire award event at the Rialto Theatre.
Instead of a sit-down dinner, NCCHR presented a one-night-only theatrical performance of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which happened in August 1963.
The theatrical performance – “Let Us March On…”, written and directed by playwright Nikki Toombs, put the spotlight on the women who fueled the movement, but who sadly took a backseat to the men who commanded the stage.
In an amazing full-circle moment, the Power to Inspire Award was presented to Myrlie Evers-Williams, whose husband Medgar Evers was killed by a white supremacist in June 1963. Myrlie and Medgar Evers helped open the first NAACP office in Mississippi.
Myrlie Evers was supposed to have been the only woman to speak from the podium during the history-making March on Washington ceremony, but she got caught in a traffic jam and couldn’t make it to the stage.
Instead, Daisy Bates, a civil rights activist, was the last-minute substitute on Aug. 28, 1963, to fill the “woman slot” among all the men who spoke that day.
It was that day when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech — a theme that was not in his prepared remarks. Singer Mahalia Jackson shouted to King during his talk, “Tell them about the dream.” King went off script, and he began telling about his dream, which he had used in a couple of speeches before but that became famous that day.
Evers-Williams, 90, sat on the front row of the Rialto receiving her award during an emotional, standing-ovation moment. Atlanta legend, Ingrid Saunders Jones, presented her with the award.
“We were trying to write a love letter to the women of the movement — to thank them for the leadership role they played in ensuring rights and justice for all,” said Jill Savitt, NCCHR’s president and CEO.
Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who chairs the NCCHR board and the motivating force behind the Center, has long advocated for celebrating the women who were part of the movement.
“My heart is full,” Franklin said from the stage. Speaking of Evers-Williams, Franklin remarked: “She transformed her pain into purpose.”
In addition to Evers-Williams, the all-woman cast of honorees included Frankye Adams-Johnson, Xernona Clayton Brady, Rutha Mae Harris, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, Karen Spellman, Dr. Georgianne Thomas and Maria Varela. Most of the women were present for the recognition.
Two children of the civil rights movement — Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia and daughter of former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and Cheryl Lowery, president and CEO of the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights in recognition of her late parents and promoters of the founding of NCCHR, introduced the women being honored.
During her remarks from the stage, Savitt spoke of how important it is to protect our democracy, which she said is under threat. She recounted King’s words that the real promise of democracy is the right to vote, which unlocks all the other rights.
“It’s time to stop agonizing and start organizing,” Savitt said.
The Center had a goal of raising $575,000 during the “Power to Inspire” event. On the day after the event, Savitt said they were still counting donations, but the latest estimate was $566,600.
Meanwhile, Savitt gave an update on the Center’s expansion plans. Construction on two new wings is expected to begin by the end of the year. The $50.56 million capital campaign is still in full swing with $38.84 million raised or pledged, leaving nearly $11.73 million left to raise.
The Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, and Savitt said they haven’t decided how they will be able to top this year’s Power to Inspire.
“The dinners were great, and that’s a traditional model,” she said. “But we are about immersive storytelling. We are looking to teach history in an engaging way and with humor.”
See Kelly Jordan’s photos from the Power to Inspire event.
Awesome coverage of the Power to Inspire event, for which you should get an award, Maria. I wanted to write in my journal about it but felt that I just didn’t have the words to adequately describe it and capture its spirit, message, and embracing scope. You did so, and now I have a forever record of an inspiring historical happening which itself will go down in history as a catalyst for further action. Thank you! I was truly privileged to be there with you all and am SO glad Shirley invited me.
The Center had a goal of raising $575,000 during the “Power to Inspire” event. Is it exact?