59th Detroit NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner: One Man’s Commitment...  One Nation’s Promise.”

By Karen Hudson Samuels/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT, MI (Tell Us Det) - Undeterred by a city in bankruptcy, the flagship event of the NAACP nationwide is forging ahead with an historic theme for its Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner: “1964-2014...50 Years Later. One Man’s Commitment...One Nation’s Promise.”

Rev. Wendell Anthony, President of the Detroit branch of the NAACP kicked off the announcement of the 59th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at a Tuesday morning press conference with Mayor Mike Duggan and leaders from the business community on hand to lend their support. This year’s dinner will take place Sunday, May 4th at the Cobo Convention Center.

The annual gathering is largest seat down dinner in the country and this year coincides with several historic events.

“When we talk about ‘One Man’ we’re really talking about ideas” said Rev. Anthony. “We’re talking about Dr. King, we’re talking about Mandela, we’re talking about Lyndon Bains Johnson, this is 50 years since the Great Society, since Medicare and Medicare, since early education was developed, since voting rights, fair housing... It’s the promise of a nation.”

The idea of a worker’s right to a living wage will be recognized at the Freedom Fund dinner. Detroit 15, a coalition of fast food and retail workers fighting for fair wages will be the recipients of the 2014 Freedom and Justice Award. “The Detroit Branch NAACP believes just as the scriptures teach us, “The laborer is worthy of his hire. In that spirit, we join with 65% of the people in Michigan who people that the minimum wage should be raised for people across our state”.

The 59th annual dinner will recognize the retirement of two leading elected officials in the U.S. House and Senate: Congressman John Dingell who served the 12th District of Michigan for 58 years and Senator Carl Levin, who served for 36 years, longer than any other Senator in Michigan’s history.

In a statement, Rev Anthony said “We have never had the occasion by which two iconic political leaders are retiring at the same time and leaving a tremendous void within our political community”. Both officials will recipients of the James Weldon Johnson Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Corporate sponsors for this year’s Freedom Fund Dinner include Gary Torgow, Chairman of Talmer Bank and Trust who is the Senior Corporate Chair; Michael T. Ritchie, President Comerica Bank who is the dinner’s General Chair; Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media who will serve as General Co-Chair along with Donna Stallings, Community Activist and Entrepreneur.

In a ceremonial gesture, Detroit’s mayor purchases the first ticket for the dinner, an opportunity Mike Duggan said, “I’ve been waiting all year for this!”