Freedom Award winners mix optimism with reality of barriers to change
Honoree Hafsat Abiola raises her 2019 Freedom Award to honor her parents at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Honoree John Legend greets a fan during the 2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Honoree Gloria Steinem greets the crowd during the 2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Lil Buck dances during the 2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Honoree Hafsat Abiola walks the red carpet during the 2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards host Lamman Rucker mimics the moves of Lil Buck, while emceeing at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Honoree Gloria Steinem talks with a reporter while walking the red carpet during the 2019 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards at the Orpheum Oct. 30. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Nigerian activist Hafsat Abiola, entertainer John Legend and feminist icon Gloria Steinem talked of past struggles and present challenges and the ties between them as they were Wednesday in Memphis.
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Freedom Awards Gloria Steinem Hafsat Abiola John Legend National Civil Rights MuseumBill Dries on demand
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Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
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