Alabama State University News March 24, 2015 National Center Art Exhibition Honors ASU Alumnus, Activist By Deonshay Danson The legacy of the late Rev. Richard Boone, one of the unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement and alumnus of Alabama State University, was celebrated at an artist reception at ASU's National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture. The artist reception for the National Center's current exhibition titled, "The 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March: A Celebration of Freedom and Democracy," was held at the National Center on Sunday, March 22. ASU archivist, Dr. Howard Robinson, served as the master of ceremonies and shared Boone's work as an activist during the Civil Rights Movement. "We wanted to use this occasion, this art show and this 50th anniversary to pay homage to Rev. Boone," said Robinson. "We know he played a critical role in the Selma to Montgomery March, but we also know that he played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement at-large. We wanted to take time to remember Rev. Boone and to say 'thank you' to Rev. Boone." Boone joined the cause for social justice as a student at ASU. In 1965, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) assigned him to Selma. Boone organized nearly 1,000 Alabama State University students to meet the marchers as they descended on Montgomery. One of those students, Samuel O. Williams ('65), was a featured artist in the National Center exhibition. Williams said he painted from experience. "I'm not painting from what I heard," said Williams. "The reason I was involved was because I wanted to see a change. It's coming, but it's not here yet. The cycle is not complete yet; we still have a ways to go." Other artists in attendance, all of whom are HBCU alumni, included: Cleve Webber, assistant professor of art at ASU, Henry Blackmon, Ricky Calloway, Tracie Lee Hawkins, Desmond McFarlane and Fred Ajanogha. The exhibition features a collection of artwork from members of the National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (NAAHBCU) and runs from March 6 - August 28. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.