[299] Descendant of Frederick Douglass honors heroes, promotes helping youth at MTSU Unity Luncheon

MURFREESBORO — As the country marks the 200^th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ birth, one of his descendants chose to focus on the future rather than the past.

Kevin Douglass Greene, the great-great-grandson of the fabled abolitionist, was the keynote speaker at MTSU’s annual Unity Luncheon Feb. 15 in the Student Union Ballroom.

Greene encouraged the roughly 300 attendees, who ranged from educators to public officials, to make sure that young people go out into the world with more than just dreams, saying they also need plans.

“I want to challenge each and every one of you to be tools in the plan for these young people to achieve their goals,” Greene said. “Challenge them, provide for them and create a world where people can unite and make for a better tomorrow.”

Greene, a human resources specialist with the Veterans Administration for the past 10 years and a U.S. Army veteran, took time to honor African-American veterans of yesteryear who, he said, had to fight wars on two fronts.

“They had to go to foreign lands and fight battles so that others would be able to get out of oppression and racism within their own countries,” Greene said. “These same veterans would come back and some of the same people that they fought with under the same flag would not let them walk down the same side of the street or sit at the same lunch counter with them.”

The theme of this year’s MTSU’s Black History Month celebration is “African-Americans in Times of War: Current Day Warriors for Social Justice.”

While declining to focus on Frederick Douglass during the formal address, Greene did discuss Douglass and the rest of his family tree in an informal round table conversation following the luncheon.

“I just happen to be a descendant of Frederick Douglass that’s carrying on his legacy by trying to provide some type of knowledge and encouragement so everyone can make this a better world,” Greene said.

A staple of Black History Month observances, the annual Unity Luncheon honors unsung heroes who have made their communities better places to live. This year’s honorees were:

• John Harris, the first full-time director of Disabled Student Services at MTSU, recognized as an advocate for civility.
• Mary R. Patterson Watkins, a board member for Generation for Creation and Kids Creativity Art and accomplished artist and playwright, recognized for her contributions to African-American arts.
• Barbara Tuckson, former chair of the Southern Association Accreditation of Schools Committee and retired teacher and principal, recognized for her lifetime in service to education.
• Raymond Bonner, first African-American from MTSU to be drafted by the National Football League and current member of the MTSU track and field coaching staff, recognized for his excellence in sports.
• Anthony McAdoo, co-founder of Murfreesboro’s first Habitat for Humanity ReStore and former teacher with Journeys in Community Living, recognized for his years of community service.

In a surprise move, BreYhana Johnson, a senator with the Student Government Association, presented the inaugural Unsung Staff Award to Barbara Scales, director of MTSU’s June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students.

To learn about future events on MTSU’s Black History Month calendar, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/aahm/docs/2018-aahm-calendar-sm.pdf.