Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Celebrates Silver Anniversaryof Martin Luther King Dinner

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

On Monday, January 18, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), America’s third oldest and largest civil rights organization, will host its 25th Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 52nd Street at Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.  

The Black Tie or National Dress reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and awards begin at 7:30 p.m, with Emmy Award-winning actress, Lynn Whitfield, serving as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Organized by Roy Innis, CORE National Chairman and Niger Innis, CORE Natioinal Spokesman, this time honored event will no doubt be as spectacular as the others have, if not moreso.

The 2010 special Silver Anniversary gala honorees are:
 Mrs. Tova Leidesdorf, widow of a descendant of California’s first African/Danish and Jewish entrepreneur and first American diplomat of African ancestry William A. Leidesdorf.  A New Yorker for most of her life, she grew up in poverty, in Haifa, Israel and became a prominent international philanthropist. Tova has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the life of William Leidesdorf, a little-known, but influential man in United States, African American and Jewish history, who was instrumental in
*   establishing United Negro College Fund,
*   helping to build the 92nd Street Y,
*   bringing Albert Einstein to America,
*   creating the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, and
*   strengthening the coalition between Christians and Jews

Michael Steele, first African American elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and

Hon. James Young, first African American Mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi, a city previously best known as the site of the murder of CORE workers and civil rights heroes James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1964.

This is one of my favorite events of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. Holiday celebrations. It is international and multicultural, and executed with all the love and respect befitting a hero who sacrificed his life, breaking down barriers so that we could interact with each other, enjoy each other, learn from each other, share with each in a harmonious, positive atmosphere. And CORE has done it beautifully for 25 years.

Congratulations to CORE, Roy, Niger, George, and the rest of the wonderful people who keep that organization alive.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson