This spring, Association of Junior Leagues International’s 94th Annual Conference convened in Atlanta. The conference’s keynote speaker was the impressive Carlotta Walls LaNier who grew up in the segregated south and is the youngest member of Arkansas’ Little Rock Nine.
During her keynote address, LaNier shared many thoughtful nuggets including, “The past and the present matter.” Just 59 years ago, in the south you were either “Black” or “white.” Public schools weren’t integrated. Children played together but were not educated together. The Little Rock Nine were the first Black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. In 1999, LaNier and the other members of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal – one of the nation’s highest civilian honors – by President Bill Clinton.
Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement, the Little Rock Nine et al, and Father Time for recognizing that the “future matters,” a diverse and inclusionary future. It’s why the thousands of women of all races, ethnicities and nationalities were able to collectively carry out the mission of Junior League and their commitment to inclusive environments. The organization is made up of more than 150,000 women in 291 communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico who work at the forefront of social reform, tackling the toughest and most critical issues of the day—including childhood nutrition and obesity, human trafficking, foster care, juvenile justice, teen self-esteem, cyber crimes, literacy and the environment, among others—for the purpose of enhancing the social, cultural and political fabric of civil society.
This writer was afforded a memorable opportunity to meet LaNier, chat with her and be gifted a personally signed copy of her memoir, A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School, as a special guest of Lincoln Motor Company. Lincoln’s Black Label experience didn’t end there; other guests and I were taken on a virtual tour where we were able to style and customize our own automobile according to our personality via The Lincoln Black Label Wall. “The Muse” complemented my personality. The others were “Oasis,” “Center Stage,” “Indulgence,” “Modern Heritage” and “Thoroughbred.”
Also, open to the attendees was a courtesy Nail Polish Change Station, featuring “Black Label” polishes: Rhapsody Blue (OPI Blue My Mind); Burgundy Velvet Metallic (OPI Burgundy Red Shimmer); Chroma Elite Light Brown (OPI Brisbane Bronze) and White Platinum (OPI Chiffon My Mind).
For more info on how you can be a part of the Lincoln Black Label Experience and get updates on the 2017 Continental and MKZ find @Lincolnmotorco on social media and you can also search using the hashtag: #Lincoln.
