Thing about thurgood and how important he was to the country for africanamericans, for those who wanted to go to law school. I was a part of that generation who looked up to and believed in him and was inspired by him that ii to someday could go to law school and become a lawyer. And there is a whole generation of people just like me who have gone on to do that because of the bravery and the courage of Thurgood Marshall. So tonight we are here together this evening. I view this as the intersection of history and the future. What do i mean by that . Intersection of history and future . Well, we are in Lincoln Theater. In this theater this was the only place where black folks could come and be entertained in a theaterthe theater because they could not go downtown. They come right here. In this theater, it was nearly demolished. We saved it, renovated it, and it is now one of the jewels of the city of columbus. History. [applause] in the intersection of arts and culture the rehabilitation for rejuvenation, the creation of the king Lincoln District in the process. History and the future, the intersection. Willwill hagood who was raised in columbus winstead east high school, everything that he learned in life he learned in here in the city of columbus. [applause] its values, and skill, its inspiration. In fact, his 1st writing job was for the post which was located right around the corner. This very neighborhood. Someone who never forgot about our city even though he has gone on to win awards , written multiple books, great books. Oneone of his books turned into a movie, the butler. Someone who cares deeply about his past, deeply about the city of columbus, and he is now one of the if not the premier Great American biographer in our country. Country. Someone we are proud of the city of columbus. [applause] will hagood, someone needs to tell the stories of our people. Or there willwithin we will be lost. And he does it in an eloquent way, when it is exciting and expect exciting and inspiring for the future, for our children i say that we can never plan ahead unless we understand from where we come. Will hagood has been that person, explained where person, explained where we come from so that we can march on to the future, and he has many more stories to tell. History and our future intersecting here tonight at Lincoln Theater. Thurgood marshall, Thurgood Marshall visited columbus many times. We did research on him. He was somewhere between nine and 13, 14 times you visited columbus. He is always back to 1938 when he 1st came to columbus. He may have come before. But in 1938, five years after he graduated from Harvard Law School he came to our city to advocate, to participate, to speak, and many times thereafter often at the naacp annual meeting in the city of columbus they probably stayed at st. Clair motel which is right around the corner on garfield because back in those days black folks could not stay at the Hotel Downtown like they couldnt go to the theaters downtown. So they came to this area of our community. The harlem of the midwest. And i can envision Thurgood Marshall walking up and down the street going to our churches, walking up and down the streets. I can envision Thurgood Marshall being in this theater at some point in time. Everybody came to this theater on long street during that period time. So this is an intersection between history and our future. And with Thurgood Marshall, he helped set the path for the future of our country in many ways. He helped set the path for all of us here tonight to enjoy the fruits of democracy and the greatness of our constitution. He was a true american that did so many good things to lift up our nation. Lincoln theater, hagood marshall all at one time at one place in the city of columbus. How fitting. [applause] the son of columbus, he is our son. His city in this theater with Thurgood Marshall probably spend time on the streets of long street. Tonight youre going to hear about the lowdown with the showdown. Thank you. [applause] the one thing i forgot to tell you is i spent 16 years as president of the king arthur complex and six years as the chairman of this board command it is great to have the two institutions collaborating. Itit is my distinct honor and pleasure to give you a brief overview of will hagood. He has authored several nonfiction books including a trilogy of biographies of iconic 20th century speakers hailed as culturally important but the los angeles times, king of the, life and times of Adam Clayton Powell junior, a New York Times notable book of the year. The 2nd book. Noteworthy and blackandwhite, blackandwhite, and the life of sammy davis junior, multiple of 100, and the next book was called sweet thunder, the life and times of Sugar Ray Robinson named as a best book of the year by forbes. His other books or two on he found himself standing outside the South African prison were Freedom FighterNelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment. Littleknown fact, he was one of the few american journalists to report from behind the berlin wall. He has been a John Simon Guggenheim fellow and a National Endowment for the humanities fellow. These are two of the highest towards bestowed upon an author. He has been called americas canny as cultural historian, has explored the cultural and historic dynamic of this country as few writers have. The works of mr. Hagood come to life. As he says, his works are made to engage in a conversation going back to the oldschool way of life, simply less wrath. Revitalization plan that would agree. That is what he says motivates them, revitalized him and give send the insight to write these meaningful historical journeys. His subjects must inspire you. By that he means they are welcome at his dining room table for sunday dinner. That is how he chooses. His book tells about this harlem congressmans rise and reveals one of the most effective legislative persons in the history of congress. Like Thurgood Marshall he formed a bond with Lyndon Johnson and has moved major legislation through the house like no other. Historically significant. He crossed paths with Thurgood Marshall. They had a common bond in their interest. This is another one of those journeys that will hagood takes the better grasp the significance of the historic figure who happens to be africanamerican. We learn that sammy davis junior was of fierce, dedicated, passionate civil rights advocate the coordinated info together black and white entertainers to assist Martin Luther king and the civil rights movement, witnessed the struggle,struggle, gotten inside seat to his interaction with the rat pack, Frank Sinatra and company, a witness to history. His career is forever diminished. The Nixon Kennedy race for president , it was clear based upon the history makes it was more deserving of the black cloth and kennedy. No entertainer had the skills of sammy davis junior. Pound for pound he may be the best prizefighter the world is ever seen. That was mohammed ali. Telling us that he was not just a fighter but a harlem renaissance man who love the art including literature, dance, song,literature, dance, song, and art. Interacting with all the Great Entertainment and artists. This cat was hip and cool. We get to see him in thea way that no other offer could have brought to life. The story of eugene allen, the butler is termed a president s and turned into a successful blockbuster movie , invisible the great discipline and hard work of an individual. He breaks away and individual that was invisible during critical times in iraq in history. Only will hagood had the insight to give us this perspective and the cultural competence. Brought the constitution to light. I will beat you at your own game. Recently donated for the Prestigious TeamAndrew Carnegie medal for excellence. [applause] the trade magazines and technical journals, but has received four stars from journals and magazines across the prestigious literary world from publisher weekly, cookers review, the library journal, and the. It led to magazine said it best, rehabilitated Thurgood Marshall. His decision to focus on marshalls confirmation hearing. We at the Lincoln Theater inducted will is our 1st inductee. Were we smart. Our 1st fundraiser for the publication. You know, we met about four or five years ago. But what the library has done is extraordinary. Traditionally in each of us in each of our brothers will engage like nothing else. This is the magic that will hagood has provided. This is the journey we have been through. This book brings us to a place where we can engage in a discussion like no other has before. Ladies and gentlemen we present mr. Will hagood. Thank you million times over. [applause] [applause] for some reason the older i get the less online people saying extravagant, beautiful, lovely things about me. I find that somewhat peculiar. Im going to have more to say in the moment. When i was growing up in this neighborhood going to Monroe Junior High School right down the street me and my sister were walking to school together, the days when everyone had a transistor radio. You could hold it up year here and listen or put it in your pocket. There was a catchy tune that i remember the started out with spoken verse and went into song. And it started like this, i hear you pretty good on your feet. Dont you know theres announce, market street. Hey hey, going to be a showdown. Hey hey. But i have been humming that a lot. Even if i did leave my band back. And even ike this was not possible without a Great Coalition coming. Organizations across the city of bonded. It is not possible to bring native son home. I am mindful that great people, great organizations represented here tonight starting with and oconnor, susan branford. She is wearing a dazzling dress. I took note of that. The Lincoln Theater. Demetrius of the king arts complex, the Columbus Public Library and, of course, the mayors office. I cant fight everybody individually thought that there are people here i would like to acknowledge. I will say a Little Something about you, and then you can stand up. Some of you know that i teach at my alma mater for Miami University in oxford, ohio. The lady who signs my paychecks is here, so i wouldnt i introduce her 1st . She is the provost of Miami University. Stand up. [applause] dear friend of mine, please protect me on his roof streets. Many of you know him as a championship prize fighter. [applause] the Athletic Director of the Ohio State University this year. [applause] one of the great attorneys of this country. [applause] isotonic a lot about jerry saunders. [applause] last year i received her susan visit a foundation board, alabama civil rights pioneer. Ninety years young. James is here. And i would like her to stand up. [applause] up on the balcony. Marched with Martin Luther king junior. [applause] i cant tell you how touched i was when she called me and said she wanted to come. Januarygot your group with the side of town with aa friend of mine who talked a lot about Thurgood Marshall, bob miller. I study that miami under this professor. He was in the civil rights movement. Light switch john lewis. He was also jailed for marching in the movement. [applause] his wife is either. In oxford, ohio. The book has been selected. Citywide program. By everyone at the same time i will be coming back in a month. What. What do we used to call those . Multiplechoice questions. I cant think the library enough were used to go on saturday mornings with my 0. 50. I can go to tokyo, memphis tennessee chicago and get myself into the library. The genius behind all that was pat luzinski. [applause] i will be returning to the city, going on a 24 city book tour. October 21 to appear at the Ohio State University. That invitation came from the vice provost of diversity and inclusion, and her name is sharon davies. [applause] my cousin just flew and today from atlanta, charles nichols. [applause] my two sisters are here. [applause] my brothers shift in los angeles. [applause] this is a man i got to know some years back because ii wrote a story about him, chief james jackson. [applause] i teach media journalism and film. The chairman of the department plays a large role in getting me to leave or zones and journalism, doctor richard campbell. [applause] David Harrison has done a lot in this community, social justice issues, pres. President of the state college. I think he is here. Absolutely wonderful. [applause] it was great that the king center honored africanamerican judges this year. There was a man in this committee. When he graduated from college and wanted to teach the africanamerican teachers, but there were too many teachers. So he switched gears and went Ohio State University law school. Launched his career i had a chance to get to know him. The 1st letter he ever wrote to me was about the brown v board of education decision. He offered one of the last great legal decisions in this country thanks to brown v board of education. Do segregated he became the 1st africanamerican federal judge in the community. I think every africanamerican knows ; that. Hehe can put his name in the same paragraph as Thurgood Marshall, you would be proud to do so. His name, judge robert m duncan. [applause] had traveled from washington dc with the for having his family. His wife is here. Honored by her presence. [applause] doing my research Thurgood Marshalls book i came across a letter. I was in arkansas visiting the archives of senator john mcclellan. The 2nd day of the hearing commercials nomination was in trouble. The nyt wrote a letter and concluded who letter these words, chances are that the nomination will be turned down. Call it is not make a person senator. His character that makes the man. One of these days the president of the United States will be in the group. Years later a kid born in the city in 1954 k all right that kid, now a grown man was by himself scrolling through journalism the Washington Post in washington. The kid now a man and a writer had an inkling that the senator from chicago might when the 2,000 election. The kids became the man in the writer went out and track down an African American public. Stefans sean after the story of the kid born in 1954 wrote became the man who became the writer, Stefan Rochon was hired as a Technical Advisor to the movie that the hollywood movie producers started to make in 2012. One day Stefan Rochon was in the white house. He bumped into the negro president who barbara ross had tricked it would be in the white house. That president then asked Stefan Rochon what he was up to. He said, ive just been hired to be the 2nd advisor to obama. And i stopped in the white house today because ii wanted to get a little gift for the wider. The negro president who barbara ross predicted when turned on his heels and went back into his office and came out. He said, something and im blue other case encased in velvet and gave it to Stefan Rochon who said thank you, mr. President. I know for a fact will is going to love this. The president said, i think youll love it, too. The gift that the kid received from the negro president the barbarossa predicted from the president ial campaign but i have taken from out under lock and key in my home brought here tonight and signed every book that you will leave here with this evening. [applause] nothing is more personal than deciding who you will dedicate your book two. So now as we dedicated to two people both like Thurgood Marshall are trained into law, they are residents of the city. I wanted to do a Little Something special for these people. So the 1st person received the 1st copy of this book from the Printing Press and i also went to a jeweler in washington because i wanted a gold plated nameplate signed the put in front of the book. I asked him was that would cost. But i did not go with the posted. I went with a goldplated nameplate and it says the 1st copy of this book to roll off the Printing Press is exclusively for michael. I would like the mayor to come up and accept this book [applause] thank you very much. I have always wanted to feel like a mayor. [applause] this is given me an opportunity to do so because i have written a citation to go along with the book. [applause] i gave myself the power to issue a citation. This is goldman and says in the dark days of legal segregation and statesponsored terrorism the black sharecroppers and the families of the deep south days