"She was such a force of nature in her enthusiasm for making our city, county and the whole Bay Area a better place." One of many comments shared about Roma Dawson, a dynamic activist who succumbed to cancer last December. Many knew Roma as a longtime dedicated League of Women Voters and community member for San Jose and the Bay Area.
Ballet dancer Misty Copeland, WNBA star Brittney Griner, and filmmaker Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee were among the honorees at this year's W.E.B. Du Bois Medal ceremony. The event, organized annually by the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, recognizes changemakers for their lasting contributions to Black culture, scholarship, and civic life. Also presented with medals were artist Amy Sherald, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn, and entrepreneur George E. Johnson, whose products revolutionized Black hair care in mid-century America.