MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of Memphis' most time-honored traditions returned again on Thursday: the 33rd Annual Freedom Awards.
For decades, civil and human rights activists have been honored in the Bluff City for their contributions to equity and justice.
All of Memphis’ finest made it down to the Halloran Center for another shining list of inductees, and one of the honorees was acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.
Lee has served as a tenured professor "committed to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers," National Civil Rights Museum officials said. Some of Lee's most acclaimed films include "School Daze," "Get on the Bus," "Chi-Raq" and "Do the Right Thing."
Another honoree was civil rights activist Xernona Clayton, who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is the founder and president of the Trumpet Awards Foundation.
"Her pioneering spirit in broadcasting continues to inspire generations," National Civil Rights Museum officials said.
Clayton was accompanied on the red carpet by none other than actor Chris Tucker.
“Knowledge is power, and to be able to touch it and hug Ms. Clayton, and she hugged Dr. Martin Luther King - all that stuff spiritually is passed down to another generation, I think,” Tucker said.
Rounding out the list of honorees on Thursday was Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF).
Ifill increased LDF's engagement in civil rights issues, "particularly in combating voter suppression and racial discrimination," National Civil Rights Museum officials said, also describing her mark on advocacy as "indelible."
All three now join a list of some of the most notable people in history honored at these Freedom Awards such as Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey.