A native of Greenwood said he spent his life fighting for civil rights and honoring those who helped.
Thurman
William Thurman chairs the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame, an elite class of those who have fought for social justice. The winners are accepted by the National Civil Rights Library, an independent Chicago-based organization that celebrates the continuing history of American civil rights concerns. Thurman played a key role in building this group.
66-year-old Thurman grew up in Greenwood and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1973. In his hometown he was “introduced to civil rights and the fight for equality and social justice in this country”.
“In Greenwood, I was exposed to the water hoses and bitten by police dogs looking for equality and social justice,” he said.
In his youth, during the famous speech “I have a dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington – a defining moment he would always cherish. “I am a 9 year old who has the opportunity to witness this speech and be in the presence of a unique person and express the personality of Dr. King, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, to see humanitarian … it was an honor to be there, “he said.
After attending Jackson State University, Thurman moved to Chicago and helped found the National Civil Rights Library in 1987.
In 2013, he returned to the steps of the Lincoln Monument on the 50th anniversary of King’s speech.
“All I know was through civil rights,” he said. “It was in this environment that I acquired the familiarity and personality of Fannie Lou Hamer, June Johnson, my late cousin Dr. Charles Austin Thurman, Charles Evers, Medgar Evers, Marion Barry – Former DC Mayor – Robert Moore and Andrew McQueen. All of these people have been very prominent figures in the community and civil rights community in and around Greenwood. I got a lot of it firsthand. “
Thurman said he covered more than 150,000 miles for civil rights and social justice. His proudest moments included the addition of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall, the opening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, and the hearing to pass the Suffrage, Civil Rights, and Fair Housing Acts.
He said he was full of hope for the next generation of those fighting for change.
“It is good that they are improving. At some point we all have to pass the baton on, ”he said. “I just think that they represent some of the core values of things that the civil rights community represents. … Perhaps they could be portrayed as an extension or arm of the civil rights community. You bring up some of the same things that we touched on in 1963, 1965 – and issues for the future. “
His advice to them: “Watch what is going on. Try to be an active part of the classroom moments. “
Thurman said he and a web designer are working on a website at www.NationalCivilRightsLibrary.online. He expects it to be operational soon.
Comments are closed.