The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum recently announced the recipients of the “2017 A. Philip Randolph “Gentle Warrior Awards” and the A. Philip Randolph “Change Agent Award.” The award honors both local and national figures. The event will take place February 18, 2017 in Chicago at the Historic Parkway Ballroom, 4455 S. King Drive on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00. For tickets visit WWW.GWA2017.Event brite.com.
“The event is a celebration of two milestones for the museum. We are celebrating, the museum’s 22nd Anniversary and it is also the anniversary of the designation of the Pullman National Monument, where we are located,” said David Peterson, president of the museum.
Gentle Warrior Award Honorees are: John Rogers, Ariel Investment, Congressman Danny K. Davis, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and David Doig, Chicago Neighborhood Initiative. The Change Agent Honorees: CBS Investigative team — Pam Zekman and Dave Savini, Brad Edwards; Melody Spann Cooper, Chairman WVON The Talk Radio; Diane Latiker, founder, Kids Off the Block; Erik Rico Nance, Owner, Litehouse Whole Food Grill and co-owner of YDYR restaurant group.
A recipient of the “Gentle Warrior Award” is viewed as one who is steadfast in their position with conviction, and who is willing to push against the boundaries of conventionality in much the same manner as Mr. Randolph did throughout his career. The transformative efforts forged by A. Philip Randolph remains to this day one of historic significance.”
Peterson states, “that the APR Gentle Warrior Awards event is an opportunity to celebrate and honor individuals whose actions in their respective careers have consistently displayed the symbolism and characteristics of the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Port- ers (BSCP). Both legacies were not only a slice of history, but they were interwoven into the fabric of this nation and labor movements around the world. Collectively they were “Change Agents.”
The Pullman Company hired African-Americans to work as porters aboard their trains, and these porters became renowned for their outstanding service. Pullman Port- ers, as they came to be known, were organized into the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters under the leadership of A. Philip Randolph in 1925. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was the first labor union led by African-Americans to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor.
Dr. Lyn Hughes, founder of the Chicago-based National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum stated, “This year, the event is particularly significant monetarily, for the museum. The proceeds from the event are targeted for two things: (1) provide funding that will enable us to complete phase two of the programing process of our 7,000 entry data base of African American Railroad employees. Doing so will enable us to create a self-funding base that will provide a financial base for the museum for decades to come. And (2) provided funds for Museum 44, “Where Hip Hop Meets History” our youth and young adult program division.
