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WORDING OF CITATIONS PRESENTED BY BLACK ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS
SEPTEMBER 19, 1971

TO KATHERINE DUNHAM (Honored for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts)

To Katherine Dunham who for so long was Blackamerica's lonely representative of an art form indigenous to our whole people. In your dancing has the soul of a great people come alive again and again to remind the world of our ancient heritage in an ancient art. We offer you this citation with great pride and sincere affection. 

TO GWENDOLYN BROOKS (Honored for Outstanding Achievement in Letters)

A poetess who has given America a new song and challenged her to sing it;  black woman whose depth of understanding transcends sex and race and creed without ignoring their existence; whose art is a symbol and a lesson for countless numbers of black youth, we offer you this citation with great pride and sincere affection.

TO DUKE ELLINGTON (Recipient of the Medal of Merit, for a lifetime of contribution to the arts)

Because you are pre-eminent among the artists who have created for America a music of its own. Because your name is a legend in every corner of the world. Because your music has stirred the hearts, puckered the lips, misted the eyes and moved the feet of millions. But particularly because you are one of us - willingly sharing with all black people the honors which have come to you. We offer you this citation with great pride and sincere affection. 

ENROLLED IN THE HALL OF FAME:

IRA ALDRIDGE (1805-1867)

Actor, whose genius clearly merits the recognition of all humanity, we respectfully enroll in the Hall of Fame of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

FREDERICK DOUGLAS (1817-1895)

Stateman, writer, whose genius clearly merits the recognition of all humanity, we respectfully enroll in the Hall of Fame of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

GEORGE WASHINGTON WILLIAMS (1849-1891)

Historian, whose genius clearly merits the recognition of all humanity, we respectfully enroll in the Hall of Fame of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

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