The University of Mary Washington hosted the annual James Farmer Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall, Room 411. The lecture, presented by Executive Vice President of Mary Washington Healthcare Xavier Richardson, honored the legacy and service of civil rights activist James Farmer.
Richardson is a member of the UMW Board of Visitors and is on the board of directors for the James Farmer Scholars program. He also is president of the Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital foundations. He is known in Fredericksburg for his volunteer efforts with many community organizations and mentoring services for local youth.
James Farmer was architect of the 1961 Freedom Rides, which challenged segregation of public transportation throughout the South. He came to UMW in 1984 where he served as a distinguished professor of history and American studies for more than 10 years.
Farmer’s life work as a political activist earned him numerous awards and distinctions including the Medal of Freedom awarded by President Bill Clinton, more than 20 honorary doctoral degrees and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York American Civil Liberties Union. His legacy continues at UMW through the James Farmer Multicultural Center and the James Farmer Scholars program.
The lecture, which is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, is free and open to the public. For more information about the lecture, call (540) 654-2119.
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News release prepared by: Julia Davis
Why is the James Farmer Scholars program for the schools is only for African American Children. If it is true civil rights then like Dr. King said we are all created equal. So why does the color of a person’s skin distinguish whether they can be a part of this program or not. The site preaches diversity. How is it diverse if only one race is allowed?