By Ian Sparks

Eagle intern

 

The J.D. Williams Library at the University of Mississippi opened its new exhibit Tuesday based around civil rights icon, U.S. congressman and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. 

The exhibit is named and based on a book written by Ernie Suggs titled “The Many Lives of Andrew Young” and explores every aspect of Young’s storied life. 

The exhibit will be open from the 25th until July 31st and is located on the first floor of the J.D. Williams Library. 

The opening ceremony held on Tuesday welcomed the 92-year-old Young and the designer of the book Donald Bermudez for an open discussion moderated by Ethel Scurlock, Dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. 

The discussion topics included Young’s childhood, the Civil Rights Movement, his background as a preacher and his family, specifically his two wives. Young regaled the audience with stories reminiscent of something you’d read in a history book including a story about a meeting in New York City with himself, Harry Belafonte and Martin Luther King Jr., the last meeting before King left for Memphis. 

Young told many stories about historical events that have shaped the modern United States, but none more important than the stories he told about his family and both wives, the late Jean Childs Young and Carolyn Young. 

His work across the many different phases of his life has laid the foundations for many to do what they want to do and be what they want to be in the modern United States, regardless of color, creed or gender. 

“I think that regardless of our political insights, pressures and opinions, that this country is grounded in being as much like the Kingdom of God as we possibly can,” Young said.

With 2024 being an election year, Young ended the discussion with words of encouragement about the future of the United States. 

“I don’t know how you’re going to vote, but I’m certain when all the votes are counted, we’re going to have a wonderful, unified country that we maybe can’t see right now,” Young said. “As Dr. King used to say, ‘God is still on the throne, so go in peace and sin no more.’”