Fort Valley State University News October 5, 2011 'Your turn is now' says former Atlanta mayor at FVSU Fort Valley State University students attending the John W. Davison Lecture Series on Sept. 14 got a moving call to action from Shirley Franklin, the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Ga. In her speech, "Taking our turn: Standing on the shoulders of our ancestors," the political trailblazer used the narratives of historical figures such as John W. Davison, the first principal of Fort Valley High and Industrial School, to illustrate a point. "Understanding the history of a people should inspire you to continue the legacy of greatness," Franklin told the Pettigrew Center auditorium audience. Although, small in stature, Franklin's authoritative demeanor and straight talk about politics, social activism and education commanded attention. The Howard University alumna discussed her decision to run for public office. With little experience as an elected official, she faced several obstacles and learned some valuable lessons along the way. As a black female candidate, Franklin faced feelings of insecurity during her mayoral bid, and was publicly criticized about everything from her image to political platform. She said studying great historical figures such as Harriet Tubman motivated her to tackle each problem head on. The community activist challenged students to stay engaged in the political process, speak up, and listen to other points of view about social issues. "Your turn is now," said Franklin. "This was a dynamic discussion," said Jeffrey Hill, a third year criminal justice student from Atlanta. "You can tell she was good because people kept talking and asking questions, even when we were supposed to be wrapping up. A lot of people needed to hear this (message). I think she woke a lot of us up." For more information about upcoming lectures, please contact Alecia Livatt, event coordinator and interim development director, at (478) 825-6959. --FVSU-- Contact: Tauheedah Shukriyyah Asad, public relations specialist Marketing and Communications, FVSU asad@fvsu.edu, (478) 825-6319 SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org www.hbculibraries.org 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children.