Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award: Difference between revisions

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The '''Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award''' is an annual award bestowed by the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]]. It is named for Reverend [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] who led the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] in [[Birmingham]] during the [[Civil Rights Movement]] of the 1950s and 60s.
The '''Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award''' is an annual award bestowed by the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]]. It is named for Reverend [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] who led the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] in [[Birmingham]] during the [[Civil Rights Movement]] of the 1950s and 1960s.


The award, which was established for the BCRI's 10th anniversary in [[2002]], is presented at the institute's annual anniversary dinner, held at the [[Sheraton Birmingham]] ballroom.
The award was established for the BCRI's 10th anniversary in [[2002]]. The honoree is chosen by Institute staff, and presented at an annual anniversary dinner, held originally at the [[Sheraton Birmingham]] ballroom. In [[2015]] the ceremony was moved to the [[Alabama Theatre]] with singer Smokey Robinson on the program. It was moved to the newly-reopened [[Lyric Theatre]] in [[2016]] and was scheduled at the [[Haven]] events center in [[Southside]] in [[2019]].
 
In October [[2018]] the Institute announced that [[Angela Davis]] had been selected to receive that year's Human Rights Award and would deliver an address to the annual banquet in February [[2019]]. According to a statement from the BCRI's board of directors, "In late December supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community began to make requests that we reconsider our decision." The board held an "emergency" conference call on January 4 during which it voted 9-2 to rescind the award. The next day they announced their decision and canceled the event.
 
Although the board has not provided details of the criteria by which the award was judged, nor the scope of the discussion in their conference call, Davis reported being told unofficially that, "[her] long-term support of justice for Palestine was at issue."
 
The planned honor and its rescission both generated strong criticisms in the community. Birmingham mayor [[Randall Woodfin]], a non-voting member of the BCRI board, expressed "dismay" at the cancellation of the honor, and the [[Birmingham City Council]] unanimously approved a resolution, "recognizing the life work of Angela Davis" on [[January 8]]. On [[January 9]] BRCI board officers [[Mike Oatridge]], [[Walter Body]] and [[Janice Kelsey]] resigned their positions.
 
Another group, styling itself the [[Birmingham Committee for Truth and Reconciliation]], organized an [[2019 Conversation with Dr Angela Davis|alternative event]] for the same date at which Davis was invited to speak. The revamped BCRI board, chaired by [[Thomas Wilder]] on an interim basis, voted to "reaffirm its nomination of Davis," and invite her to appear at a rescheduled banquet. Davis left the decision of whether she would accept the award in the hands of local activists. BCRI's president, [[Andrea Taylor]] announced in August 2019 that Davis would accept the award. The presentation was made during a virtual event held during the [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic]] on [[June 19]], [[2020]].


==Honorees==
==Honorees==
* 2022: Myrlie Evers-Williams
* 2018: [[Angela Davis]] (announced October 2018, withdrawn and reinstated January 2019, awarded June 2020)
* 2017: [[Richard Arrington]]
* 2016: Eleanor Holmes Norton
* 2015: Vernon Jordan
* 2014: [[C. T. Vivian]]
* 2013: [[Andrew Young]]
* 2012: Bryan Stevenson
* 2011: Charlayne Hunter-Gault
* 2011: Charlayne Hunter-Gault
* 2010: James Clyburn
* 2010: James Clyburn
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* 2005: John Lewis
* 2005: John Lewis
* 2004: John Hope Franklin
* 2004: John Hope Franklin
* 2003: Danny Gover
* 2003: Danny Glover
* 2002: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]]
* 2002: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]]
==References==
* Gray, Jeremy (September 14, 2015) "Vernon Jordan to receive Shuttlesworth award; Smokey Robinson to perform at ceremony." {{BN}}
* "Prominent BDS activist Davis to receive Civil Rights Institute's Shuttlesworth Award." (December 23, 2018) ''Southern Jewish Life''
* Roop, Lee (January 5, 2019) "Birmingham Civil Rights Institute cancels plan to honor Angela Davis." {{BN}}
* "BCRI rescinds honor to Angela Davis as human rights award winner." (January 6, 2019) {{BT}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (January 7, 2019) "In caving to pressure to cancel Davis, BCRI insulted Shuttlesworth, stained its own legacy." {{BN}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (January 7, 2019) "Angela Davis ‘stunned’ at BCRI decision, but is still coming to Birmingham for ‘alternative event’." {{BN}}
* "Protesters demand changes after BCRI rescinds award for Angela Davis." (January 8, 2019) {{BT}}
* Koplowitz, Howard (January 8, 2019) "Birmingham City Council passes resolution ‘recognizing life work’ of Angela Davis." {{BN}}
* "[http://www.birminghamal.gov/2019/01/10/mayor-woodfin-updates-issue-surrounding-bcris-decision-to-rescind-dr-angela-davis-honor Mayor Woodfin updates issue surrounding BCRI's decision to rescind Dr. Angela Davis' honor]" (January 10, 2019) City of Birmingham press release
* Johnson, Roy S. (January 13, 2019) "BCRI silent about meeting that might’ve stalled ill-fated Angela Davis decision." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (January 25, 2019) "Birmingham Civil Rights Institute re-invites Angela Davis." {{BN}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (January 27, 2019) "[http://www.al.com/news/2019/01/bcri-ceo-andrea-taylor-talks-missteps-lessons-learned-from-angela-davis-turmoil-meeting-with-protesters.html Civil Rights Institute CEO talks ‘lessons learned’ from Davis turmoil, meeting with protesters]" {{BN}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (August 29, 2019) "Dr. Angela Davis to accept once-rescinded Fred L. Shuttlesworth Award." {{BN}}


==External link==
==External link==
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[[Category:Civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Civil rights activists]]
[[Category:November events]]
[[Category:November events]]
[[Category:2002 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 10:58, 6 November 2022

The Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award is an annual award bestowed by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. It is named for Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth who led the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

The award was established for the BCRI's 10th anniversary in 2002. The honoree is chosen by Institute staff, and presented at an annual anniversary dinner, held originally at the Sheraton Birmingham ballroom. In 2015 the ceremony was moved to the Alabama Theatre with singer Smokey Robinson on the program. It was moved to the newly-reopened Lyric Theatre in 2016 and was scheduled at the Haven events center in Southside in 2019.

In October 2018 the Institute announced that Angela Davis had been selected to receive that year's Human Rights Award and would deliver an address to the annual banquet in February 2019. According to a statement from the BCRI's board of directors, "In late December supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community began to make requests that we reconsider our decision." The board held an "emergency" conference call on January 4 during which it voted 9-2 to rescind the award. The next day they announced their decision and canceled the event.

Although the board has not provided details of the criteria by which the award was judged, nor the scope of the discussion in their conference call, Davis reported being told unofficially that, "[her] long-term support of justice for Palestine was at issue."

The planned honor and its rescission both generated strong criticisms in the community. Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin, a non-voting member of the BCRI board, expressed "dismay" at the cancellation of the honor, and the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a resolution, "recognizing the life work of Angela Davis" on January 8. On January 9 BRCI board officers Mike Oatridge, Walter Body and Janice Kelsey resigned their positions.

Another group, styling itself the Birmingham Committee for Truth and Reconciliation, organized an alternative event for the same date at which Davis was invited to speak. The revamped BCRI board, chaired by Thomas Wilder on an interim basis, voted to "reaffirm its nomination of Davis," and invite her to appear at a rescheduled banquet. Davis left the decision of whether she would accept the award in the hands of local activists. BCRI's president, Andrea Taylor announced in August 2019 that Davis would accept the award. The presentation was made during a virtual event held during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic on June 19, 2020.

Honorees

References

External link

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