On September 15, 2019, the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW) bestowed the Dick Gregory Good Brother Award on Pensacola attorney Aaron Watson in Washington, D.C.
The Good Brother Award honors the late Dick Gregory, who turned his platform as one of the first celebrated African American stand-up comedians to that of a champion of the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. His comic genius would often incorporate commentary of segregation, discrimination, and equality.
The awards brunch, coinciding with the Congressional Black Caucus events in D.C., and honoring the 50th Anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s election to Congress, was attended by Dick Gregory’s son, Harriet Tubman’s descendants, and Dr. Art Rocker. Honorees from the United States Representatives included Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Johana Hayes (D-CT), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN). The fellow honorees included Dr. Monica Clement, Dr. Linda Myers, Dr. Hermant Patel, Dr. Jay Patel, Dr. Percy Thomas, and Jack Olender, Esq.
Attorney Watson commented, “to receive the Dick Gregory Good Brother Award and be in the presence of such a prestigious group of professionals and advocates is simply electrifying. The history of this organization and the human and civil rights efforts of its contributors assures that everyone is entitled to justice and have their voices heard. I am honored to bring this award back to my home community of Pensacola.”
NCBW is a non-partisan, independent, political organization with Chapters throughout the United States organized to promote African American women in their participation at all levels of government and as role models and leaders to our emerging generation of leaders.