Crosbys Honored with For My People Award

My parents, Dave and Patty Crosby, were honored this year with a For My People Award, given annually by the Margaret Walker Center. The award is given for distinguished service in the public preservation of African-American history and culture. This year’s other recipients were: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who delivered the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Convocation speech, and the African American Military History Museum.

I asked Roderick Red Jr., of Red Squared Productions, to photograph the event. In the above image, Patty and Dave are pictured with Robby Luckett, director of the Margaret Walker Center, and my sister Emilye, who introduced my parents for the award.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault gave a rousing speech.

The convocation ended with a rendition of We Shall Overcome, including the traditional hand-holding by the folks on stage and in the audience.

Several longtime friends and mentors were on hand for the event, including Worth Long.

And Roland Freeman.

Patty couldn’t help but take photos.

Emilye did the introduction with verve and flair.

Dave.
Patty.

Hunter-Gault conferring with Carlton Reeves, a federal judge, who delivered the closing remarks.

More friends.

More friends.

More friends.

And just a good comparison of our jawlines… Em.

…. And me.
I’ve said this on the blog before, but I’ll say it again because it never ceases to give me joy. Roderick Red Sr. and I learned photography side-by-side from Patty in the early 80s, and now I count his son among my friends and colleagues. Thanks for taking all the photos, Jr., you did a great job.