10/26/2026
We at Lawson State Community College could not be prouder to be present at the kickoff of "Historically Black," the new exhibit at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) as part of the start of Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola week!
The rich legacy and contributions of Alabama's 14 historically black colleges, universities and community colleges are the focus of the display. As a group, they are also set to receive the 2026 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, the first time the award has gone to institutions rather than an individual.
Our esteemed President Dr. Cynthia T. Anthony joined other college leaders at a special opening reception for the exhibit, which includes items curated by our very own Lawson State Library.
At the event opening, BCRI Historian Barry McNealy highlighted legends like Arthur Shores, Odessa Woolfolk, Richard Arrington, Fred Shuttlesworth and others who graduated from or had strong ties to Alabama's historically black colleges.
"These institutions were a proving ground for the heroes who marched into the breach," he said, referencing the breadth of the civil rights movement. "It took people of courage, of training, of moral character and experience."
Historically Black remains open at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute through Saturday, Dec. 12.
