macy’s presents the international civil rights walk of fame

In celebration of the resilience of African Americans, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame exhibit made a stop at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. The exhibit, the brainchild of civil rights pioneer and Trumpet Awards founder Xernona Clayton, features the shoes of noted civil rights activists such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Sammy Davis Jr.

To commemorate the event, Macy’s hosted a panel discussion that included Clayton, American Legacy magazine founder Rodney J. Reynolds, National Urban League President Marc Morial, the NAACP’s New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes, and former New York Mayor David Dinkins. 

“The legends of the Movement [are] in New York … and it’s very special for us to have them here,” said Ed Goldberg, Macy’s SVP of government affairs.

The event, which was hosted by Rev. Dr. Paul Smith, Senior Pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian, touched on the struggles African Americans have faced in the past and still face today.

“We dishonor [Martin Luther] King if we say we have not made progress …,” Morial said. “But if we believe that the playing field is level, then we don’t understand where things are.”

Throughout the night, visitors and shoppers browsed the exhibit and stopped to listen to the powerful panelists, a fact that was not lost on Dinkins. “This is really a splendid idea and I know there are shoppers who pass by, listen for a minute and walk on, but it’s good for them to know that Macy’s has this kind of attitude,” he said. –ivory m. jones