Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
The elegant Koury Center in Greensboro recently set the stage for the 2025 International Civil Rights Center and Museum (ICRCM) Awards Gala on Saturday, July 19, a night dedicated to honoring champions of justice. Six remarkable individuals were celebrated for their profound contributions to civil and human rights.
Honoring Courage and Service
The first to be recognized was VonDeleath Kersey, a proud Bennett College graduate and a participant in the pivotal 1960 Greensboro sit-ins, where she and her peers courageously picketed the F.W. Woolworth Building. A native of Norfolk, Va., who now resides in West Chester, Pa., Kersey earned her bachelor’s in history and sociology in 1961 before dedicating her career to social work and special education. She received the Sit-in Participant Award, a poignant tribute to her early acts of defiance that helped ignite a movement.
High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson then accepted the Keeper of the Flame Award. Mayor Jefferson, who made history in November 2023 as High Point’s first Black and youngest mayor at 31, was lauded for his unwavering commitment to justice. Jefferson is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and has become a notable public speaker, entrepreneur, and a transformative leader. As mayor, he’s focused on increasing access to resources, affordable housing and investing in minority-owned businesses.
The Lifetime Community Service Award was presented to Margaret Bordeaux Arbuckle, a dedicated Greensboro leader whose life’s work has centered on building bridges and fostering social justice. A UNCG alumna with a ‘74 MEd and ‘84 Ph.D., Arbuckle served as a Guilford County Commissioner and was a key advocate for preserving the Woolworth Building, which eventually became the ICRCM. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at UNCG’s GIFTTS project and the Guilford Education Alliance, where she has focused on policy development that impacts children, families, and equity. These endeavors earned Arbuckle UNCG’s prestigious Holderness/Weaver Award in 2022.
A powerful moment arrived with the presentation of the Unsung Hero Award to Claudette Colvin. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1939, Colvin, then just 15, courageously refused to give up her bus seat to a White passenger on March 2, 1955—months before Rosa Parks’ protest. Despite her arrest and the fear that followed, Colvin’s act of resistance, fueled by the spirit of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, was a critical, though often overlooked, precursor to the Civil Rights Movement.
Former N.C. State Representative and State Senator Henry “Mickey” Michaux Jr. received the Alston/Jones International Civil & Human Rights Award at the ICRCM’s Annual Fundraising Gala. This award, named after ICRCM founders Melvin “Skip” Alston and Earl Jones, recognizes individuals who demonstrate enduring courage and effective leadership in the pursuit of justice. Michaux, the longest-serving member of the North Carolina General Assembly for 40 years, has dedicated decades to civil rights as an activist, attorney, and legislator. From working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his groundbreaking appointment as the first Black U.S. Attorney in the South, his contributions have left an indelible legacy on the State of North Carolina and the nation.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms received the Trailblazer Award. Mayor Bottoms was lauded for her visionary leadership during her 2018-2022 term as mayor. Her notable achievements include establishing Atlanta’s first fully staffed Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, eliminating cash bail citywide, and implementing a comprehensive financial transparency platform. Recognized as the 2020 Georgian of the Year and a recipient of the Distinguished Civil Rights Advocate Award, her work consistently brings equitable outcomes to the forefront of government and commerce.
