EBONY And Colgate-Palmolive Salute Fathers At 1st Annual African-American Men's Day In New York

Jet, July 2, 2001

During EBONY Magazine's first annual African-American Men's Day event at the Hilton New York & Towers, nine outstanding fathers were honored at its gala awards luncheon.

The theme for the day-long affair sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive Company was "Footsteps: Walking The Path Of Our Fathers." Dr. Howard Dodson, chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library, was emcee.

The luncheon saluted noted fathers whose sons are following in their footsteps. EBONY Magazine Executive Editor Lerone Bennett Jr. was keynote speaker.

Honorees were Warren Jackson, founder and chairman of Circulation Experti Ltd.; the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Norris, pastor of Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. in Jamaica, NY; Dr. Walter J. Turnbull, founder & president of the Boys Choir of Harlem, Inc.; Dr. Walter E. Massey, president of Morehouse College; Eddie Levert Sr., recording artist and founding member of the O'Jays; Harold "Hal" B. Jackson, radio and TV personality and group chairman of Inner City Broadcasting Corp.; Earl G. Graves Sr., chairman & CEO of Earl G. Graves, Ltd. and publisher of Black Enterprise; Rep. Edolphus Towns (DNY); and Percy E. Sutton, attorney and founder & chairman emeritus of Inner City Broadcasting Corp.

A highlight of the affair was a spectacular performance of the song Wind Beneath My Wings by honoree Eddie Levert and his son, Gerald Levert.

More than 1,200 people attended the African-American Men's Day program which also featured sessions on health, education, careers and spirituality.