The 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Awards Program was held Thursday in the Michael D. Rose Theater.
The event taking place on the 34th anniversary of King’s assassination at the Memphis’ Lorraine Motel honored three members from The University of Memphis who have worked toward the advancement of human relations and who are focused on the expansion of civil, economic and social rights.
This year’s recipients were Donald Franceschetti, Richard Jones and LaKetha Murphy.
Franceschetti, a physics professor at The U of M, received the faculty award. He was honored for his efforts to incorporate more women and minorities into the field of Science.
“The most basic human right is the right to a future,” Franceschetti said. “There’s a future for all of us, if were not impeded because we don’t have access to education or access to healthcare or a safe place to grow up or safety from people in authority who might abuse that authority.”
Jones, best known as “Daddy Rich” is an athletic academic counselor at The U of M. Jones earned the nickname by being a benevolent father figure to many U of M students he has mentored.
Jones is a volunteer for the Senior Services of Greater Memphis, the NAACP, the United Way of Greater Memphis, as well as various other non-profit organizations.
“Every now and then it’s good to stop and remember when ‘you could, I couldn’t, you did, I didn’t,’” Jones said. “What do you say to someone who has done something as nice as you have done for me today? Simply, thank you.”
Murphy, who is a student at The U of M and is involved in multiple service organizations, was given the Student Scholarship Award.
“I try to do the work that we should all be doing to try to unite students, the best way that I can,” Murphy said.
Murphy is the president of The Each One Teach Three Mentoring Program, a member of the Black Student Association, the African American Recruitment Committee, Black Scholars Unlimited, YO! Memphis and Circle K International, as well as a volunteer for Zoe Life Ministries.
“The legacy that Dr. King left us calls us try to unite each other and work towards our goal of unity,” Murphy said
Donald Carson, vice president of student affairs, vice provost of enrollment services and a 1990 Human Rights Award recipient, was the keynote speaker for the event.
Carson spoke about what he believes are the several qualities embodied by almost all outstanding individuals who have made a difference in society—a faith in a higher power, a strong inner conviction, a sense of humor, optimism, forgiveness and self-assuredness.
“One of the most helpful contributions you can make to individuals who are looking up to you for a sense of leadership and guidance is a sense of hope,” Carson said. “If you truly believe that there is a better tomorrow, then the others around you will believe that there is a better tomorrow.”
