Honor Barbara Smith Award

September 14, 2017 WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Barbara Smith upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Living the Legacy Award by the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center, to be celebrated at its 2017 Annual Legacy Event on Thursday, September 14,

2017, at Revolution Hall in Troy, New York; and WHEREAS, Since July 19, 1971, The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center has provided residents of the Capital Region access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income; for almost five decades, this vital organization has strived to serve as a community leader committed to delivering dependable, compassionate, high quality health care which enhances the well-being of its diverse and changing communities; and WHEREAS, The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center's Living the Legacy Award is given annually to a community leader who has made a substantial difference in the Capital District; and WHEREAS, Barbara Smith is an author, advocate, and independent scholar who has played a groundbreaking role in opening up a national cultural and political dialogue concerning the intersections of race, class, sexuality, and gender; and WHEREAS, Beginning in the early 1960s, Barbara Smith has been active in numerous roles influencing African American women's literary tradition, Black women's studies and Black feminist thought; and WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, Barbara Smith has edited three major collections about Black women: Conditions: Five, The Black Women's Issue, All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Women's Studies, and Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology; she also co-authored Yours in Struggle: Three Feminist Perspectives on Anti-Semitism and Racism; and WHEREAS, In 1998, Barbara Smith was the general editor of The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History with Wilma Mankiller, Gwendolyn Mink, Marysa Navarro, and Gloria Steinem; in that same year, a collection of her essays, The Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom was published by Rutgers University Press; and WHEREAS, In November of 2014, Barbara Smith published Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith, an exceptional work which earned her many honors; and WHEREAS, This great luminary also held the title of both cofounder and publisher of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, making her the first United States publisher for women of color; and WHEREAS, A resident of Albany, New York, Barbara Smith has served two terms as a member of the Albany Common Council from 2006-2013; currently, she is the Special Community Projects Coordinator for the City of Albany helping to implement the Equity Agenda; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her community and her vision of equality, Barbara Smith was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2017 African American Policy Forum Harriet Tubman Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2015, she received a Doctor of Letters, Honorary degree by the University at Albany, the Lambda Literary Award, the Publishing Triangle Award, the Women of Excellence Award for Distinguished Career, and the Literary Legends Award; and WHEREAS, Barbara Smith was also presented with the 2009 Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College Achievement Award, the 2000 Church Women United Human Rights Award, the 1999 Albany Chapter National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Arts Award, the 1998 Honorable Mention Gustavus Myers Human Rights Book Award, and the 1987 Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Association Sesquicentennial Award; and WHEREAS, In addition, Barbara Smith was named a 2012 "Makers: Women Who Make America," a 2010 "Capitaland Quarterly" Dozen Who Make a Difference, a 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and a 1996-1997 Fellow at Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College, as well as a 1995-1996 Scholar-in-Residence at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend individuals of outstanding character, who have shown initiative and commitment toward constantly pursuing higher goals for themselves, and acting as role models of leadership to be emulated by both peers and young people; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Barbara Smith upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Living the Legacy Award by the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center on September 14, 2017; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Barbara Smith.