The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, which includes the footprints of such notable leaders as poet Maya Angelou, baseball great Hank Aaron and former U.S. President Bill Clinton is growing.
The growth, though, will occur at the display’s new home at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.
Creator Xernona Clayton, who conceived of the project in 2004, said the move has been years in the making.
Duplicates will be made of 15 of the dozens of footprints currently on display around the National Park Service’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site on Auburn Avenue.
And it will grow.
New inductees are Jan Prisby Bryson, president of BenchMark Management, engineering, construction and program management services firm; Thomas W.Dortch Jr. , entrepreneur and national chairman of the 100 Black Men of America; Monica Kaufman Pearson, well-known broadcast journalist; and Sir Franklyn R. Wilson, a Bahamian businessman.
Credit: Akili-Casundria Ramsess
Credit: Akili-Casundria Ramsess
The display was created to give recognition to people who advanced the cause of justice and equality .
A major ceremony marking the move of the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame will be held at 8:30 a.m. May 16. The public is invited to attend.
"These are real people who made a real difference in the world and this should be shared with a larger audience,” said Clayton, who is also founder of the Trumpet Awards Foundation.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the National Center For Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Blvd N.W.. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased in advance by contacting at the Trumpet Foundation Office at 404-878-6738 or 678-296-3920. Tickets will also be available the morning of the ceremony.
