Programs and Events 2009
Olympic Medalists Share Civil Rights Experience with Students
In honor of Black History Month, African-American Olympic Medalists Ron Freeman and Lee Evans spoke to a group of 42 high school students at Jubilee International School about the importance of taking a stand against injustice, a subject that they know well as veteran civil rights activists. During the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Evans stood on the medal podium wearing black berets , symbolizing black power, to protest against racial discrimination in the United States. Their protest brought international attention to the problem of racial inequality.
During the presentation, students had the opportunity to see a video of their Olympic races and later to hear both Freeman and Evans share stories about the struggles they faced as African-Americans growing up in the United States during segregation and at the height of the civil rights movement. They spoke about important leaders, like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. who chose to risk everything for something they truly believed in.
They reminded students that, while it is more comfortable at times to sit back and avoid difficult situations, it is important to make the choice to express your opinions and stand up for what you believe in. They also noted that, in a democracy, it is the responsibility of each and every citizen to take such action, and in order to do so, citizens must be educated about the issues facing their country.