Last week, actress Jurnee Smollett, co-star of "The Great Debaters," announced her intentions of working with Wiley College (the school The Great Debaters was based on) officials to establish a $2 million scholarship fund in honor of Henrietta Bell Wells, the woman behind her "Great Debaters" character, and her mother Janet Smollett, a civil rights activist and humanitarian.
While holding back tears, Smollett vowed that the scholarship fund would "put young girls through college" and help diminish the negative stereotypes and images of black women as depicted by the media, which she feels are sensationalized.
"I'm told I'm a statistic," said Ms. Smollett, in a passionate address to the packed audience in the center. "I'm told that my young black sisters are disease-ridden...but we are greater than what society tells us we are."
After Ms. Smollett's speech, Wiley President and CEO Dr. Haywood Strickland, admitted for the first time that he was speechless after hearing the accomplished actress' declaration to provide more scholarship opportunities for its student body, most of whom are "first generation" college students.
Wiley officials later presented the actress with an honorary degree. Ms. Smollett accepted it to the applause of the audience, which was filled to capacity.
"I'm deeply, deeply humbled to be here with you today," Ms. Smollett said. "I know I'm in a room full of greatness."
This is awesome!
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