The Staunton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) honored Talladega College President Gregory J. Vincent with the Dr. Theodore Judson Jemison President’s Award at its 77th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on October 14, in Staunton, Virginia. The event brought together influential community leaders, activists, and supporters to commemorate the organization’s legacy and celebrate its ongoing commitment to civil rights.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Vincent.
During his speech, Dr. Vincent paid tribute to the undeniable impact the NAACP has played in the betterment of the lives of people of color. Vincent’s appreciation for the NAACP’s tireless efforts resonated with the audience and served as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equal rights.
“One hundred and fourteen years after the founding of the NAACP, we find ourselves still working toward the core objectives of that organization: political, educational, social, and economic equality for all, eliminating racial discrimination, securing civil and constitutional rights,” Vincent shared.
One of the central themes of Dr. Vincent’s address was the significance of the Black vote and its power to enact change. He emphasized the importance of active civic participation and encouraged attendees to exercise their voting rights as a means to shape a better future for all. Dr. Vincent underscored the hard-won battles fought by the heroes of the NAACP and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, stressing that their invaluable work must continue.
“We must continue to advocate for those most in need. We must VOTE. Encourage others to vote, work toward registering others to vote—do everything you can to ensure voting rights are not eroded any more than they have been,” said Vincent.
As the evening drew to a close, Vincent left attendees with a resonating message. “We have much work to do to continue the invaluable, brave work started by the many heroes of the NAACP and Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s,” he declared.
After the keynote, Staunton NAACP President Kenneth Venable surprised Vincent with the President’s Award, named in honor of Reverend Dr. T.J. Jemison (August 1, 1918 – November 15, 2013).
“I am honored to receive the prestigious award, named for the esteemed civil rights icon, Dr. T.J. Jemison. It is with great appreciation that I accept this recognition, which highlights the importance of preserving and advancing civil rights in our society,” said Vincent.
Jemison was a renowned civil rights and religious leader who helped found the Staunton NAACP chapter in 1946. In 1953, while minister of a large church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jemison helped lead the first civil rights boycott of segregated seating in public bus service. The organization of free rides, coordinated by churches, was a model used later in 1955–1956 by the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama. Jemison was also one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. It was Jemison who advised Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others on the organization of a successful bus boycott in Montgomery. Jemison also served as President of the National Baptist Convention.
On March 11, 2017, Jemison was among five individuals inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. He was cited posthumously for his pioneering work in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and his pastorate of the Mount Zion First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge.
“I have always admired Reverend Dr. Jemison for his role in forging a path forward for civil rights and equal justice for all. But I also knew him well. He always had an encouraging word when he served as a mentor to me in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi (The Boulŕ). This is an honor I will cherish,” Vincent added.
