A Different World’s Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis and Jasmine Guy

Written by | Ray Cornelius 

The SCLC Women, Inc. Drum Major for Justice Awards Gala was held Friday night at the Hyatt Regency downtown Atlanta. This year’s 35th anniversary celebration saluted three champions of civil and human rights—SCLC Women, Inc. founder Evelyn Lowery, First Lady Michelle Obama and Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin.

The evening featured moving tributes from SCLC Women, Inc. interim chair Scarlet Pressley-Brown, Elder Bernice A. King and Atlanta media mavens—Karyn Greer, Monica Pearson and Lisa Rayam. Trumpet Awards creator Zernona Clayton, Ambassador Andrew Young and his wife Carolyn Young and C.T. Vivian saluted the honorees during video presentations.

However, the real treat of the night was the reunion of A Different World  cast members Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis and Jasmine Guy. The three divas recognized female pioneers that had changed the course of African-American history with a dramatic reading titled A Different World, Thanks To You.

Also in attendance were gala co-chairs, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Georgia Pacific Corporate Affairs executive Charmaine Ward. Christine King-Farris (sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and Rev. Joseph Lowery was there with his three daughters – Yvonne Kennedy, Karen Lowery and Cheryl Lower-Osborne.

The gala was co-hosted by actor Mykelti Williamson and radio & TV personality Mo Ivory while gospel great Dorothy Norwood closed out the evening with a medley of inspirational tunes.

Check out some pictorial highlights below:

Stop the Killing

 SCLC/Women, Inc. National Memorial STOP THE KILLING QUILT

Dr. Christine King-Ferris

 Dr. Christine King-Ferris (sister of MLK) poses with gala attendees

CAU Gospel Choir

 Clark-Atlanta University Choir perform “We Shall Overcome”

Karyn Greer and Monica Pearson

 Atlanta media mavens Karyn Greer and Monica Pearson

Sybrina Fulton speech

 Sybrina Fulton delivered a moving acceptance speech

Synbrina Fulton2

 Mykelti Williamson, Mo Ivory, Sybrina Fulton and SCLC/Women, Inc. interim chair Scarlett Pressley-Brown

Daughters of the movement

 Daughters of the Movement: Elder Bernice A. King, Nancy Hill Cooke, Mary Liuzzo Lilleboe

and a Spelman student who stood in for Elizabeth Omilami

Newcasters

Monica Pearson, Karyn Greer and Lisa Rayam

Dr. Joseph Lowery

 Rev. Joseph E. Lowery

A Different World2

 Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis and Jasmine Guy

Shirley Franklin

 Scarlet Pressley-Brown, Lowery and daughters, Shirley Franklin and Charmaine Ward

Dorothy Norwood

 Dorothy Norwood took the audience to church with gospel music favorites

Photo Credits: Megan Alodie for RayCornelius.com

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