Civil Rights icon gives back

It was a night of honors as the Andrew J. Young Foundation hosted its annual ‘Pass on Blessings Award Dinner.’ At the forefront was Philanthropist, Civil Rights Activist, and founder of the Andrew J. Young Foundation.

Through nonviolent protest, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s broke the pattern of public facilities’ segregation, segregation in education, and achieving the most important breakthrough since the reconstruction period: equal-rights legislation for African-Americans. Civil Rights Trailblazer Andrew Young said, “Experiences in the rural South sort of grounded me in almost everywhere I went, but I learned to get along with everybody. I learned to talk to everybody and that ended up putting me with Martin Luther King.”

Andrew Young was iconic in the Civil Rights movement, marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and other notable figures. Young says this was a position he trained for before he even made it to his early school years. “I think my experience in the Civil Rights movement helped me to get along there, but it also helped me to get along in Congress. It helped me to get along in the United Nations because, well growing up in New Orleans when you have the Nazi party and Irish Grocery Store and then an Italian bar 50 yards from where you were born, it was almost like I had a United Nations education before kindergarten.”

Folks from all over the world descended on the Beau Rivage to be honored for their many works and accomplishments throughout the year. Monday night, during the annual ‘Pass on the Blessing Award Dinner,’ awards were given in categories like ‘community engagement,’ ‘International Humanitarian,” and scholarships for ‘trailblazer of the year.’

Mack Wilbourn is an award recipient. He says he is honored to be recognized for his service by such a great leader and friend. “I’ve worked with Andy since 1973 in Atlanta. I was chairman of his finance committee in 1980. From there, I have worked with him forever. Love him.”