LCCR Honors Civil Rights Leaders: John Hope Franklin
Feature Story by Sarah Beckerman - 4/20/2007
Dr. John Hope Franklin, an educator and renowned historian, will be honored by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) at this year's Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner on May 10, 2007 in Washington, D.C.
LCCR honors Dr. Franklin for his consistent and continual commitment to incorporating blacks into American historical texts and representations. His pioneering works, including From Slavery to Freedom and Mirror to America: The Autobiography of John Hope Franklin, are well-regarded nationally and internationally.
According to Wade Henderson, president and CEO of LCCR, Dr. Franklin's contributions are "essential to depicting a true and balanced view of the rich history belonging to all of America."
Dr. Franklin's work extends to the political arena. Appointed to One America: the President's Initiative on Race by President Clinton, Dr. Franklin helped to open a national dialogue on race and equality.
Dr. Franklin has served as President of The American Studies Association, the Southern Historical Association, and the American Historical Association. In addition to many awards, Dr. Franklin has received honorary degrees from more than 100 colleges and universities.
The establishment of the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies at Duke University in 2000 continues Dr. Franklin's work and legacy.
"Dr. Franklin's work has and continues to be a guide along our national road to an equal and just society. He has worked tirelessly to make sure that the story of America includes the stories of us all," said Henderson.
LCCR's Civil Rights Award was named for former United States vice president, senator, and civil rights pioneer Hubert H. Humphrey, whose years of public service, leadership, and dedication to equal opportunity changed the face of America.
Awardees are selected based on their distinguished contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Previous recipients include Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart; and actor-activist Danny Glover, among others.
