The Freedom and Light Gala is the culmination of our annual session and serves as the primary fundraiser for our HBCU/GMBSC Scholarship. Historically Black Colleges and Universities play a vital role in helping to provide advancement opportunities for minority students. We aim to help ensure students have the financial support needed to begin and or continue their academic pursuits at these historic institutions.
As a matter of context for this year’s gala, this year is the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer in Mississippi. The summer of 1964 was the summer of the murders of Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney. This was the summer of the establishment of Freedom Schools which served thousands of children in the Mississippi Delta. This was the summer that many believe gave President Johnson the push to sign the 1964 Civil Rights Act into law. As various events have been planned to commemorate the great struggle for freedom in Mississippi in 1964, this year’s Freedom and Light Gala will honor freedom fighters whose faith helped empower them and the movement. We endeavor also to highlight current activists and advocates whose faithful fight for freedom makes a difference in Mississippi and beyond.
GMBSC of MS represents the largest African-American religious denomination in Mississippi. Whether leading in the fight to change the state’s flag, responding to the Jackson water crisis, or serving tornado victims in Rolling Fork, we put our faith into action. The Freedom and Light Gala highlights the faithful works and contributions of present-day Mississippians committed to freedom and allowing faith to light the way.