The NAACP closed out its 114th National Convention with an award presentation presided over by none apart from former Secretary of State and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
The former U.S. Senator from New York was on the town Tuesday night to catch the top of the week-long gathering, held this 12 months in Boston for the primary time in additional than 4 a long time. Clinton was requested to current the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal to life-long civil rights advocate Hazel Dukes.
“I am delighted to have been asked to present tonight’s Spingarn Medal,” Clinton stated, calling 91-year-old Dukes her “long-time friend.”
“Hazel has spent her entire life lifting up others in the pursuit of justice and equality. What a joy it is to celebrate her long history of public service and activism,” she stated.
According to Clinton, Dukes has been a “trusted advisor” all through her profession, somebody who she may depend on to inform her the reality whether or not she wished to listen to it or not.
“We have made and lived history together, although she was doing both a long time before we met,” Clinton stated.
Dukes spoke after the previous first girl laid the NAACP’s highest honor round her neck, dedicating the mass of her handle to the many individuals who she has labored alongside within the civil rights motion during the last 5 a long time.
“It is my hope that my accomplishments have had an impact on society and the lives of so many. As I often say, if I can help someone as I travel along this way, then my living shall not have been in vain,” Dukes stated. “I want to leave you tonight — by god, grace, and mercy — I want you to know: I’m not tired yet.”
Dukes is at the moment a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors and its Executive Committee and has served because the president of the group’s New York State Conference for many years.
According to the affiliation, Dukes earned the award following “her years of transformative advocacy and brave leadership.” More than one speaker referred to ‘Mama’ Dukes as a “living legend.”
“Dr. Dukes’ tireless pursuit of justice has been a beacon to our network of activists,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson stated. “She serves as an outstanding role model, not only for myself, but for the next generation of Black activists.”
Previous Spingarn Medal recipients embrace Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Thurgood Marshall, Harry Belafonte, Jackie Robinson, and W. E. B. Du Bois. The award is known as after former NAACP Board of Directors Chairman Joel Spingarn, who established an annual affiliation presentation for exceptional achievement in 1914.
Dukes, in 1997, was briefly voted off the NAACP’s Board of Directors after she admitted to embezzling $13,000 from a sick colleague.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”