Civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis delivered a powerful keynote speech on Thursday at The Philadelphia Tribune Christopher J. Perry/Carter G. Woodson Black History Awards Luncheon.
The theme for his speech was American democracy and how it relates to education, community, business and politics.
Chavis is currently the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, an organization that focuses on supporting and advocating for publishers of the nation’s more than 200 Black newspapers.
“One of the things that I learned from Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement was to not let anything or anybody break your spirit,” Chavis said. “There is a lot going on in some of our communities that is trying to break our spirit.
“I’m glad that Pennsylvania as a state has not joined Florida as a state to ban books and change the curriculum to deny the truth not just for Black youth, but for white youth,” he said. “Everybody deserves high quality education and there should be no attempt to deny equal education.”
Chavis also spoke about the upcoming presidential election and charged the audience to make a difference by voting.
“There have been not only attempts to keep us from voting, but I’m concerned about social media and the distribution of content targeting young people and having them think that voting is not important,” he said. “I want us to be mindful of what’s going on, but also realize how important the right to vote is.”
Approximately 300 people attended the event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. NBC10 anchor Fred Shropshire guided the program.
Attendees were welcomed by Robert W. Bogle, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Tribune. Tiffany Thurman also spoke on behalf of Mayor Cherelle Parker, who was unable to attend the event due to illness.
“This gathering is a stark reminder of the rich and diverse tapestry of African-American history in our beloved city,” said Thurman, who is chief of staff for the Parker administration.
“As we come together to commemorate the legacy of Perry and Woodson, we pay tribute to their resilience, determination and contribution to the African-American community that has left a lasting mark on the city’s identity,” she said.
“Your stories are intertwined with the essence of Philadelphia. A city that has stood as a beacon of liberty and justice for all.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro praised The Tribune during his speech for being an accurate source of news.
“I want to applaud The Philadelphia Tribune for getting out accurate information at a time where there is misinformation in political discourse and in the news cycle,” Shapiro said. “The Philly Tribune is a source that we need and you can trust.”
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