|
Joseph Lowery, Dean of Civil Rights Movement, Celebrated on
96th Birthday
Special to The Truth
While President Barack Obama and Congresswoman Maxine Waters
sent birthday greetings, Ambassador Andrew Young, Martin
Luther King III and Dr. Martin L. King Jr's sister,
Dr. Christine King Farris were among celebrities and
dignitaries on hand in Atlanta to acknowledge the 96th
birthday of civil rights leader and former King
confidant, Joseph E. Lowery, D.Min.
The historical evening was made most memorable when OWN's
"Greenleaf" star and singer Keith David; Tyler Perry's
"House of Payne" star and vocalist, Cassandra "Cassi" Davis;
and gospel superstar, Yolanda Adams, mesmerized the audience
with a stellar musical tribute that encapsulated the life of
the well-loved nonagenarian. The Joseph and Evelyn Lowery
Institute (Lowery Institute) hosted the gala which also
featured Lowery Institute Change Agents packing the stage to
honor the Dr. Lowery with raised fists and taking a knee. |
Yolanda Adams
Lowery,
Will Packer, Angela Rye |
|
Themed "Grounded in History: Soaring Towards The Future,"
the Lowery Institute also awarded movie producer, Will
Packer, attorney Angela Rye and activist Rev. William
Barber, for continuing the national dialogue in support of
justice and human rights, and keeping the Lowery's legacies
alive as agents of change in their respective fields.
"The evening truly epitomized my dad's life," said Lowery's
daughter and president of the Lowery Institute, Cheryl
Lowery. "People from all walks of life made it out to
celebrate and producer, Kenneth Green, created an engaging
musical experience, masterfully weaving elements of my
mother and father's work as agents of change juxtaposed with
the Lowery Institute Change Agents who will continue to keep
their legacy alive. He was able to tell their stories using
all types of music from hip hop to the Morehouse College
Glee Club."
Chronicling Lowery and his late wife, Evelyn Gibson's
contributions to the Civil Rights Movement as well as the
initiatives utilized by the Lowery Institute's Change Agents
to carry on the legacy, the tribute featured a medley of
musical "moments" spread throughout the night that included
topics like "Building A Legacy", "Amazing Grace," "A Change
is Gonna Come," "Make Them Hear You," and "Am I Wrong."
The opening "moment" of the homage, "They Will Remember
You," showcased a hip hop song of the same name detailing
Rev. Lowery's work to address racism, violence and injustice
performed by Salim Bakari, Michael Nero and Sara Davenport.
The song's lyrics and music were composed by Jevares Myric
and Ronve O'Daniel.
During Lowery's standing-room-only after party, he commented
on the current condition of black America telling Roland
Martin, host of TV One's NewsOne Now, "There's never been a
time when we should be more united. Never been a time when
we should be more together. I appreciate the fact that so
many Black folks are coming together expressing in their own
way their determination to move forward."
Presented by Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company, the
bi-annual birthday celebration raises funds to support the
work of the Lowery Institute, a non-profit organization
established to ensure the continuity of Lowery and his late
wife's lifelong commitment to non-violent advocacy.
Known as the "Dean" of the Civil Rights Movement, Lowery
assumed and executed a diverse series of roles over the span
of his seven decades: leader, pastor/preacher, servant,
father, husband, freedom fighter and advocate. Two major
milestones during his journey came in 2009 when he delivered
the benediction during President Obama's Inauguration and
later that year when President Obama awarded him the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his lifelong
commitment to the nonviolent struggle for justice, human
rights, economic equality, voting rights, peace and human
dignity.
For more information on the Lowery Institute visit
www.loweryinstitute.org.
|
