Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Annual Historian Awards Program

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Annual Historian Awards Program

The 2022 Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Annual Historian Awards Program was held on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the A.R. Johnson Magnet School Auditorium.  Because of covid, we postponed last year’s program so this year we will celebrate our 2021 and 2022 honorees.  Our 2021 honoree is Dr. John Hayes, Associate Professor of History at Augusta University.  Dr. Hayes is a leader with the 1970 Augusta Riot Observance Committee and is currently working on a book entitled The People Rebelled, which will seek to tell the complex story of the Augusta Riot.  His first book was Hard, Hard Religion:  Interracial Faith in the Poor South.

Our 2022 honoree is Mr. Charles Walker.  Mr. Walker’s work in the Augusta community is well documented.  We honor him because of his ongoing preservation of elements closely associated with The Golden Blocks heritage of Augusta, most notably the preservation of the former national headquarters of the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Company building, now The Walker Group.  Aside from his many successful businesses and his decades as a major political figure in Georgia politics, Mr. Walker is the author of From Peanuts to Power:  The Road to Wealth, Success and Happiness.

Pictured:  Mr. Charles Walker