Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 March 2005 — Page 30

Page 30 • The Muncie Times • March 3, 2005

Legacy Honors 6 Black Legends

NEW YORK CITY— American Legacy, the premier magazine for African American history and culture presented its Sixth Annual Women of Strength & Courage Awards luncheon Feb. 24, at New York City’s Grand Hyatt Hotel. This year’s honorees are: pastor and gospel legend Shirley Caesar; Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields; media mogul Cathy Hughes; supermodel Beverly Johnson; actress activist Denise Nicholas; and dancer Carmen de Lavallade. Celebrating its 10th year of publication and the 6th year of this event which honors African American women, American Legacy

magazine chose to honor these six women during its 6th annual Women of Strength and Courage Awards luncheon. "This is an extraordinary moment for American Legacy magazine," says American Legacy founder and Publisher Rodney J. Reynolds. "This is our 6th year and we are pleased to honor these incredible women, while recognizing their achievements to not only African American history, but American history." In 1999, American Legacy magazine began its salute to Black History Month by honoring African American women who embody the principles that the magazine stands for on

culture, legacy and heritage. X For more than 30 years, Caesar has warmed the souls of millions through her gospel and ministry. X As a young girl crusading for civil rights in the segregated south, Fields dedicated her life to battling social injustice, a mission she still pursues as she fights for a better quality of life for New Yorkers. X Against impossible odds, Hughes transformed a tiny Washington, D.C., radio station into a multimillion-dol-lar company and the largest black-owned radio chain in the nation. X Johnson broke through the fashion industry’s race barrier as the first African

American to appear on the cover of Vogue. X Award-winning performer Nicholas has combined acting and activism, taking on television, stage and cinema during the course of her multifaceted career. X Lavallade, one of the finest interpreters in the world of dance, broke the "sound barrier" by incorporating the spoken word into dance performances. The luncheon was preceded by an open forum discussion between the honorees and select New York area high school students. The forum was facilitated by Audrey Peterson, editor, American Legacy. In honor of the magazine’s 10th anniversary

year, it has included an essay writing contest in which five high school students will be awarded a $500 scholarship for their essays on their favorite heroes. "The forum is the highlight of the event," says Peterson. "It is an opportunity for high school students to come face to face with outstanding individuals, they may have only read about in a book or seen on television." American Legacy magazine is a quarterly magazine distributed nationwide to over 500,000 readers through black churches, educational and cultural institutions.

Shirley Ceasar

Carmen De Lavallade

Beverly Johnson

C. Virginia Fields

Cathy L. Hughes