International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame is a historic promenade that honors some of the activists involved in the Civil Rights Movement and other national and global civil rights activists. It was created in 2004, and is located at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta. The site also contains an outdoor exhibit that showcases, in granite and bronze, the footstep impressions of those honored.[1][2]
According to the National Park Service, which runs the historic site, the Walk of Fame was created "to give recognition to those courageous soldiers of justice who sacrificed and struggled to make equality a reality for all." The Walk of Fame has enriched historic value and cultural heritage to the area it is located, priming it into a tourist attraction.[1]
The Walk of Fame is a product of Xernona Clayton, an American civil rights activist and executive broadcaster who founded the Trumpet Awards to recognize black excellence.[3] Xernona has also run the Trumpet Awards Foundation since its inception in 2004 which has partnered with the Parks Services in putting on the Walk of Fame.[4][5][6][7] In the National Historic Site location, the Walk of Fame averaged around 800,000 visitors a year.[6]
Beginning in 2012, inductions will be held every two years.[8]
In 2019 it was announced that new additions to the Walk of Fame as well as duplicates of 15 of the existing members would be installed at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.[6][9]
List of inductees
2004
- Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., civil rights leader who had a close and enduring partnership with Dr. King[8]
- Juanita J. Abernathy, civil rights activist[8]
- Ivan Allen, Jr., former mayor of Atlanta during the turbulent civil rights era of the 1960s[8]
- Julian Bond, civil rights leader[8]
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States[8]
- Medgar Evers, civil rights activist[8]
- Dorothy Height, educator, social activist[8]
- Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., minister, civil rights activist[8]
- Judge Frank M. Johnson, United States Federal judge[8]
- Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States[8]
- John Lewis, politician, civil rights leader[8]
- Joseph E. Lowery, minister, civil rights leader[8]
- Evelyn G. Lowery, civil rights leader[8]
- Thurgood Marshall, former US Supreme Court Justice (1969–1991)[8]
- Rosa Parks, civil rights activist[8]
- Rev. Hosea Williams, civil rights leader[8]
- Andrew Young, civil rights activist, former mayor of Atlanta[8]
2005
- Henry Aaron, baseball player, social activist[10]
- Harry Belafonte, musician, actor, social activist[10]
- John Conyers, Jr., politician, social activist[11][12]
- Dick Gregory, comedian, social activist[10]
- Maynard H. Jackson, former mayor of Atlanta[10]
- Ralph E. McGill, journalist, social activist[10]
- Fred L. Shuttlesworth, social activist[10][13]
- Ted Turner, media mogul and philanthropist[10]
- Judge Elbert P. Tuttle, former chief judge of the US Court of Appeals (1960–1967)[10]
- Nancy Wilson, singer, social activist[14][15]
- Reverend Addie L. Wyatt, Labor leader, civil rights pioneer, pastor[10]
2006
- Reverend Joseph E. Boone, social activist[8]
- Reverend William Holmes Borders, Sr.[8]
- Xernona Clayton, civil rights leader, broadcasting executive[8]
- Lena Horne, singer, actress, social activist[16][8]
- John E. Jacob, former president and CEO of the National Urban League[8]
- Reverend James Orange, pastor, civil rights activist[8]
- Bernard Parks, politician, social activist[8]
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African cleric, social activist[8]
- William Clinton, 42nd President of the United States[8]
- Stevie Wonder, singer, civil rights activist[8]
2007
- Lerone Bennett, Jr., scholar, author, historian, social activist[4][17]
- Tony Bennett, singer, social activist[4][18]
- Marian Wright Edelman, social activist for the rights of children[4]
- Shirley Franklin, 58th mayor of Atlanta[4]
- Frankie Muse Freeman, civil rights attorney[4][19]
- Joe Louis, boxer, social activist[4]
- Sir Lynden Pindling, former Prime Minister of the Bahamas[4]
- Sidney Poitier, actor, social activist[4]
- Dr. Otis W. Smith, physician[4][20]
- Maxine Waters, politician, social activist[4]
- L. Douglas Wilder, former governor of Virginia[4]
- Jean Childs Young, civil rights activist and educator[4]
2008
- Dr. Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, actress[8]
- Senator Edward W. Brooke, social activist, politician[8]
- Tyrone L. Brooks, Sr., social activist, politician[8]
- Sammy Davis Jr., singer, dancer[8]
- Jesse Hill, Jr., business executive[8]
- Dr. Benjamin Hooks, established Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change[21][8]
- Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King's attorney[8]
- Tom Joyner, radio host[8]
- The Right Honorable Prime Minister Michael Manley, former Prime Minister of Jamaica[8]
- Herman J. Russell, founder and CEO of H. J. Russell and Company[8]
- Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, executive director of the SCLC 1960-1964[8]
2009
- Rev. Dr. C.M. Alexander[8]
- Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., entrepreneur[8]
- Dr. Erieka Bennett[8]
- Roberto Goizueta, CEO of Coca-Cola[8]
- Cathy Hughes, entrepreneur, radio and television personality, and business executive[8]
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, basketball great and businessman[8]
- The Links, Incorporated, nonprofit organization of professional African-American women[8]
- Sam Massell, businessman and mayor of Atlanta[8]
- Ernest N. Morial, mayor of New Orleans[8]
- Father Michael L. Pfleger, Roman Catholic priest and social activist[8]
- Rev. Al Sharpton, social justice agitator and media figure[8]
- Congressman William L. Clay, Sr.[8]
- Rev. C. T. Vivian, minister and Martin Luther King associate[8]
2010
- Congressman James E. Clyburn[8]
- Judge Damon J. Keith[8]
- Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles[8][22]
- National Newspaper Publishers Association[8]
- Eugene C. Patterson[8]
- Rev. Albert Sampson[8][23]
- Rita Jackson Samuels[8]
- Congresswoman Diane E. Watson[8]
2011
- Arthur Blank[8]
- James Brown[8]
- Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley[8][24]
- Bishop Neil C. Ellis[8]
- Leon Hall[8]
- Bishop Barbara King[8]
- Marc H. Morial[8]
- Mayor Carl Stokes[8]
- Congressman Louis Stokes[8]
- Henry "Hank" Thomas[8]
2012
- Rev. Willie Bolden & J.T. Johnson[25] and the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers[26][8]
- Rev. Dr. E. T. Caviness[8]
- Dosan Ahn Chang-ho[8]
- Constance W. Curry[8]
- Fred D. Gray[8]
- Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh[8]
- Charles J. Ogletree, Jr.[8]
- Dr. Walter F. Young[8]
2014
- Bishop John Hurst Adams[8]
- Governor Roy Barnes[8]
- John Carlos[8]
- Tommie Smith[8]
- Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas[8]
- Dr. Norman C. Frances[8]
- Harry E. Johnson[8]
- Representative Calvin Smyre[8]
- Thomas N. Todd[8]
- Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr.[8]
2016
- Dr. Amelia Boynton Robinson, civil rights activist from the Selma movement[7]
- Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, pastor, philanthropist, author, motivational speaker[7]
- Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, pastor, community activist[7][27]
- Rev. Dr. Jim Holley, Historic Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church pastor, "ministry of liberation"[7]
- Gordon L. Joyner, influential Atlanta lawyer[7]
- Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, pastor, defender of civil and human rights[28][29]
2019
- Jan Prisby Bryson, business executive[6]
- Thomas W. Dortch Jr., national chair of 100 Black Men of America[30]
- Monica Kaufman Pearson, broadcast journalist[6]
- Sir Franklyn R. Wilson, Bahamian businessman - chairman of Sunshine Holdings Limited[6][31]
See also
References
- ^ a b "The International Civil Rights Walk of Fame". NPS.gov.
- ^ Franklin, Jennifer Bradley (August 5, 2016). "20 reasons to visit Atlanta 20 years after the Olympics". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Xernona Clayton". NPS.gov.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Poitier, Bennett, others get civil rights honors". Associated Press. February 27, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2026 – via NBC News.
- ^ "International Civil Rights Walk of Fame". Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Poole, Shelia M. (May 10, 2019). "International Civil Rights Walk of Fame will have new home". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ a b c d e f Saporta, Maria (February 12, 2016). "Column: College Football Hall of Fame CEO search takes unexpected turn". SaportaReport. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj "International Civil Rights Walk of Fame Announces 2014 Inductees". The Birmingham Times. December 19, 2013.
- ^ Larche, Diane (May 13, 2019). "Civil Rights Walk Of Fame New Home At Civil & Human Rights Center". The Patch. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Diverse Group Inducted Into Civil Rights Walk". Associated Press. August 27, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2026 – via Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "John Conyers, Longest Serving Black Congressman, Dies at 90". Voice of America. October 27, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Pengelly, Martin (October 27, 2019). "John Conyers, Democrat who served half a century in the House, dies at 90". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Martinez, Michael (October 5, 2011). "Civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth dies at 89". CNN. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Farber, Jim (December 14, 2018). "Nancy Wilson, Singer Who Bridged Jazz and Pop, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Nancy Wilson, Grammy-winning jazz and pop singer, dead at 81". www.cbsnews.com. December 14, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Lena Horne's Story, As Told By Her Daughter". NPR. May 14, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Former Ebony Editor Author Lerone Bennett Jr. Dies at 89". Voice of America. February 15, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Tony Bennett, enraged by racism, championed civil rights alongside MLK". NBC News. July 21, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman dies at 101". NBC News. January 13, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "International Civil Rights: Walk of Fame - Dr. Otis W. Smith". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "Benjamin Hooks, Leading Jurist and Civil Rights Leader". Voice of America. November 1, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "International Civil Rights: Walk of Fame - Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "International Civil Rights: Walk of Fame - Rev. Dr. Albert Sampson". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "International Civil Rights: Walk of Fame - Dr. Gerald L. Durley". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Reisigl, Joe (September 9, 2025). "He was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most trusted leaders. So why haven't you ever heard of J.T. Johnson?". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "Footsoldiers remember the movement". ajc. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Davis, John (January 24, 2016). "Around the State". The Dallas Examiner. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2020: Religion, Nonprofits, & Advocacy". Atlanta Magazine. January 17, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ Desalu, Carolyn (January 14, 2016). "Atlanta faith calendar". ajc. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ "Atlanta Business Chronicle to honor national chairman of 100 Black Men of America at Leaders in Corporate Citizenship Awards". Atlanta Business Chronicle. January 7, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ Latimore, Marshall (May 22, 2019). "International Civil & Human Rights Walk of Fame celebrates new location with ribbon-cutting ceremony and breakfast". The Atlanta Voice. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
External links
- International Civil Rights Walk of Fame website by National Park Service