By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
With the luxurious, Black-owned Salamander Hotel serving as the venue, a host of distinguished African American leaders were honored during the National Action Network’s (NAN) annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Awards Breakfast on Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president, NAN, joined by M.L. King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, recognized advocates who have advanced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.
Honorees included former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.; Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; BET Co-Founder and the Salamander Collection CEO Sheila Johnson; Congressional Black Caucus Foundation President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hiller; veteran political strategist, former DNC Chair and award-winning media commentator Donna Brazile and youth leader Eric Carpenter-Grantham.
In April, NAN will mark its 35th anniversary of civil rights activism during its annual convention in New York City, where the organization is based.
King Day 2026 takes place as the federal government maintains efforts to eliminate many of the things for which Dr. King fought. Last month, the Trump administration came under fire after the National Parks Service removed King Day and Juneteenth, a federal holiday since 2021, from its free days in 2026 — yet added the president’s birthday to its calendar.
Last year, the Trump administration launched a crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in both the public and private sectors. Rev. Sharpton and NAN have led the effort against these actions through a series of measures including “buycotts” in support of companies like Costco, and publicly denouncing those who have abandoned historic DEI commitments after the murder of George Floyd.
Credit: All photos courtesy of the Baltimore City Office of the Mayor / J. J. McQueen
Sharpton said achieving progress in the struggle for civil rights “is not a miracle, it’s a mandate.”
“Let me be clear, they did not wake up one day and give us this holiday – it happened because of years of hard work led by folks like Coretta Scott King, Congressman John Conyers, Stevie Wonder and many more,” said Sharpton. “Everything Dr. King stood for is now at risk including the Voting Rights Act.”
Sharpton gave a strong warning to those in attendance.
“Don’t be deceived – the president wants this to be the last King Holiday in America. It’s not enough for them to kill the dreamer. Now, they want to kill the dream,” he said.
During King III’s remarks, he reminded the audience of one of his father’s most memorable descriptions of people and the choice we must make as part of the human family.
“There are many battles before us today and we must decide, as my dad often said, if we will act as thermostats or thermometers,” he said. “Thermostats merely record the temperature, but thermometers regulate the heat – they determine what’s going on. We cannot forget where we came from. And if we are willing to work together to realize Dr. King’s dream, then the dream is for all of us to claim.”
Award recipients share vignettes of unforgettable moments in their lives
After their remarks, Sharpton welcomed each of the honorees to the stage for photos and an opportunity to share their thoughts. Presentations to each award winner were preceded by a video that showcased seminal moments in their lives.
The Lifetime of Excellence in Public Service Award was presented to former US Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who said while we have a president who is “testing our institutions and ideals, we cannot forget our purpose – our mission.”
His comments came after a video from his friend and former boss, President Barack Obama, which illustrated the profound respect the former president has for Holder, the first Black man to serve as Attorney General.
“Trump has weaponized the Department of Justice, is ordering law enforcement to employ Gestapo-like tactics and is calling for unprecedented gerrymandering. Meanwhile, he clings to power like an insecure dictator. But we’ve been tested before,” said Holder. “The difference is someone has always appeared ready to help us. This time, there is no calvary. We cannot wait on a miracle. This time, we must be the cavalry.”
Mayor Scott, the recipient of the Visionary Award was lauded by leaders like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. While unable to attend the event, Moore spoke via video about the significant changes that have occurred in Charm City since the two-term mayor assumed the helm.
Once at the podium, Scott spoke to why he has worked so hard to reduce violence in Baltimore City.
“I witnessed my first shooting when I was just 10 years old and its impact was so profound. I remember saying that one day I wanted to be the mayor of Baltimore so I could change things for the better,” Scott said. “And despite what some falsely report–after a year of 300-plus homicides– in 2025, we reduced that number to 123.”
Scott has been lauded around the country for the lives saved.
“We saw homicides decline 50 percent over a five-year period while non-fatal shootings dropped by 57 percent. But I’m still not satisfied. One life lost is one too many. There’s no question that the house is on fire. The only question is who will put out the flames?” said Scott. “Our ancestors were the builders of Washington, D.C. And from what we’ve seen from the current administration, we will have to serve as the firefighters for the flames that are raging in America.”
Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, received the Beacon of Justice and Equity while Sheila Johnson accepted the Trailblazer in Business and Social Impact Award. Johnson is the entrepreneur and business wizard, who hosted the event as the founder and CEO of the Salamander Collection, which includes the Salamander Hotel.
The Youth Award went to high-functioning autistic 21-year-old, Eric Blessed Carpenter-Grantham, from Montgomery County, Md.
He was recognized for the historic legislative achievement he recently secured in Maryland with the passage of the bill which bears his name, “Eric’s ID Law.” The legislation began as a dream he had of a more effective means for law enforcement to easily identify individuals like him with “invisible disabilities.” Now, Marylanders have the option of adding a small butterfly symbol to their driver’s licenses to denote to officers intellectual disabilities such as hearing impairment, mental health issues and autism.
Perhaps the words which moved the audience the most, even bringing some to tears, were those uttered by Donna Brazile, veteran political strategist, who received the Legacy of Leadership in Civic Engagement Award.
“It’s hard to stand here without getting emotional and thinking about Coretta Scott King,” Brazile said, adding that it was Mrs. King who invited her to go to Atlanta and begin her first job organizing a group of young volunteers at just age 21.
“I was 8 when my grandmother called me and my siblings into her room and told us that Dr. King had been shot in Memphis,” she said. “Grandma told us to get on our knees and pray for him because she believed, she hoped, that he would survive. Later, we got the news that he had died.
“We again were instructed to pray. This time for Dr. King’s family and for the man who shot him. I refused. But she said that as Jesus declared, we must love our enemies. It was then that I knew the path that I would follow in my life. I had to work toward finishing Dr. King’s work. I had no idea what that meant nor how I could contribute, but I was determined to find out.”
