Associated Black Charities initiated the national observance of Black
History Month in 2003 by renewing its effort to illuminate the urgent need to
help eradicate both new and old social ills.
Each year, our goal is to increase grants to our community-based health and
human service member agencies in New York City. More than ever, therefore, we
need your support to gather the financial and other resources to help restore
the productive lives of fellow New Yorkers.
On February 5, 2003 we celebrated our 17th Annual Black History
Makers Awards Dinner and reception at the Marriott Marquis hotel in
New York City.
The evening featured the installation of Catherine L. Hughes and Johnnie
L. Cochran, Jr. Esq., as Black History Makers. Ms. Hughes and Mr. Cochran
will join a legion of past Black History Maker honorees, including United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan, Vernon Jordan, Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Colin
Powell.
Catherine Hughes is the first African
American woman to head a firm publicly traded on the stock exchange in the United
states and the first woman owned radio station to rank #1 in any major market.
Today, Hughes and her son, Alfred Liggins, the President and CEO, work side by
side in running Radio One, Inc, which value is currently in excess of $2 billion
dollars.
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. is not only
America's most recognized lawyer, he is a seasoned litigator and leader in the
legal profession. In 1995, he was named "America's Trial Lawyer of the Year"
by the prestigious National Law Journal as well as being named one of the Headliners
of the Year by Time Magazine. In 1996, Mr. Cochran was selected for membership
in an exclusive group of trial lawyers, "The Inner Circle of Advocates,"
which is composed of the top 100 personal injury lawyers in America.
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. may have become well known because of his representation
of celebrities in high profile cases, but his true measure of success comes from
his lifelong dedication to fighting for the injured and the disenfranchised.
Today, The Cochran Firm, with offices in several major cities throughout
America, is one of the largest law firms serving injured people and their families.
