Tuskegee University president to speak at Lincoln Memorial for 100th anniversary

Tuskegee University
A Tuskegee tradition. (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, Tuskegee University’s president, will be speaking at Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 22nd in honor of the famous landmark’s 100th anniversary. We’ve got the details.

Keeping up the tradition

Tuskegee University
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

President Morris of Tuskegee University will speak at the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial’s dedication as a continuation of Tuskegee’s central role as a leader and advocate for social issues including:

  • Civil and human rights
  • Economic empowerment
  • Social justice

The Tuskegee community has held a significant and critical part of the history and legacy of one of the most beloved shrines in our nation’s capital.

Why is this monument so significant to the university? It symbolizes the continuing struggle to extend one of our nation’s founding principles—that everyone is created equal.

The Lincoln Memorial x Tuskegee University

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated to the memory of Abraham Lincoln in 1922 and has since been a symbol of the advancement of civil rights as the site of some of the most important demonstrations, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream speech.

What makes this location even more special to the university is that a handful of Tuskegee presidents have played vital roles at key points in the memorial’s history. At its opening, Dr. Robert Moton, the second president of Tuskegee, addressed the audience.

In 2009, when the memorial was rededicated, Tuskegee’s fifth president, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton was a featured speaker. His speech was dedicated to America’s pride, struggle and journey towards equality, justice and full democracy. Now, it’s Dr. Charlotte Morris’ time to shine!

FUN FACT: The Lincoln Memorial is the most visited tourist site in Washington, DC with more than five million people welcomed in 2021 alone.

You can be one of those welcomed to the memorial by joining the Tuskegee community in Washington, D.C. RSVP here.

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Tira Davis
Tira Davis
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