FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 23, 2026
First organizational honorees to be recognized at BCRI’s 34th Anniversary Celebration
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 23, 2026) — The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) announced today that Alabama’s 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will collectively receive the 2026 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award, recognizing their extraordinary contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, their enduring commitment to educational opportunity, and their continuing influence on American society.
The announcement coincides with the opening of Historically Black, BCRI’s new exhibit celebrating Alabama’s HBCUs and their profound contributions to education, culture, leadership, and social progress.
For the first time in the award’s history, the prestigious recognition will be presented to institutions rather than an individual, honoring the collective impact of Alabama’s HBCUs in advancing civil and human rights.
“For generations, Alabama’s HBCUs have done far more than educate students. They have cultivated leaders, challenged injustice, expanded opportunity, and helped transform our nation,” said Deborah V. Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
“Their students, faculty, and alumni were instrumental in the struggle for civil rights, and their institutions continue to shape the future. Recognizing all 14 institutions collectively is a powerful acknowledgment of a shared legacy that deserves to be celebrated and preserved,” Bowie added.
Honoring Alabama’s 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The 2026 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award recipients are:
- Alabama A&M University
- Alabama State University
- Bishop State Community College
- Drake State Community and Technical College
- Gadsden State Community College
- Lawson State Community College
- Miles College
- Oakwood University
- Selma University
- Shelton State Community College
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
- Trenholm State Community College
- Tuskegee University
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, HBCU campuses served as centers of organizing, resistance, and intellectual leadership. Students and faculty challenged segregation, organized economic boycotts, participated in sit-ins and voter registration campaigns, and helped advance the struggle for equal rights.
Their contributions remain deeply connected to the legacy of the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, whose courage and unwavering commitment to justice helped transform Birmingham and the nation.
The Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award
Established in 2002, the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s highest honor, recognizing extraordinary leadership and enduring contributions to civil and human rights.
Past recipients include civil rights icons Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Bryan Stevenson, Myrlie Evers-Williams, and Harry Belafonte, as well as former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. (2025) and BCRI founding leader Odessa Woolfolk (2024).
The selection of Alabama’s 14 HBCUs marks a historic milestone as the first time the award has been presented to organizations rather than an individual.
BCRI’s 34th Anniversary Celebration set for Giving Tuesday
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will host its 34th Anniversary Celebration and 2026 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Award Presentation on Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at the Institute in Birmingham’s historic Civil Rights District.
Additional information regarding the evening’s program, sponsorship opportunities, and attendance will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information about the Historically Black exhibition, visit https://www.bcri.org/historically-black/.
About the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a cultural and educational research center dedicated to preserving the history of the Civil Rights Movement, promoting civil and human rights, and fostering dialogue and understanding. Located in Birmingham’s historic Civil Rights District, BCRI connects the lessons of the past to the challenges and opportunities of today.
Media Contact:
Kayla Gladney
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
kgladney@bcri.org
www.bcri.org