On November 5, the Nashville Branch of the NAACP held their annual Freedom Fund Banquet at the Music City Center. 

The annual event is one of the major fundraising events held each year, allowing them to operate their office and keep the community informed so the community can hold the school board, the legislature, judicial districts, and the Metro Mayor’s Office accountable for what is happening to the people in our city.

The theme for this year was ‘Protecting Our Legacy, Casting our Bright Star.’ The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. 

Award recipients included: Judge Rachel L. Bell, Legacy Award; Dr. Blondell Strong Kimbrough, President’s Award; Judge Robin Kimbrough Hayes, Lifetime Service Award; and Dr. Sekou Franklin, Dr. Charles E. Kimbrough Medal of Honor.

Brenda Gilmore received the President’s Award for Dr. Blondell Strong Kimbrough, as well as an Honorary award for herself.

Join the NAACP. Regular annual memberships are as follows: Regular Adult (ages 21 and older) – $30*; Youth with Crisis magazine (ages 20 and under) – $15*; Youth without Crisis magazine (ages 17 and under) – $10; and WIN (Women In The NAACP) membership – $10 (only available to active members). Lifetime memberships are as follows: Junior Life (payable in annual installments of $25 or more—ages 13 and under) – $100**; Bronze Life (payable in annual installments of $50 or more—ages 14-20) – $400**; Silver Life (payable in annual installments of $75 or more) – $750**; Gold Life (payable in installments of $150 or more) – $1,500** (only available to Silver or Regular Life members); and Diamond Life (payable in installments of $250 or more) – $2,500** (only available to Gold Life members); Annual Corporate memberships – $5,000*. *Includes a one-year subscription to Crisis magazine.