FAMU Honors John Due Jr. for 90th Birthday Celebration

News Summary

Florida A&M University celebrated the 90th birthday of civil rights leader John Due Jr. with a special event highlighting his lifelong contributions to justice and equality. The event included a proclamation of honor, an oral history book documenting his legacy, and heartfelt tributes from family and colleagues, all emphasizing the significant impact Due has made in the realm of civil rights activism.

Celebrating a Living Legend: John Due Jr. Turns 90 in Style

Orange Park, FL – On October 22, 2024, Florida A&M University (FAMU) celebrated a monumental event—the 90th birthday of alumnus and civil rights titan, John Due Jr. This lively gathering brought friends, family, and admirers together to honor a man whose legacy echoes throughout the realm of civil rights activism.

A Proclamation of Honor

The celebration kicked off at FAMU’s College of Law, where a special proclamation of honor was issued to recognize Due’s phenomenal contributions to the fight for civil rights. In a world where heroes often fade into obscurity, Due stands out as a beacon of hope and perseverance, having dedicated his life to the cause of justice.

Documenting a Legacy

Adding a unique touch to the festivities, the University of Florida’s Samuel Proctor Oral History Program presented a remarkable 90th birthday oral history book. This invaluable resource documents the life and work of John Due Jr., ensuring that future generations will learn about the hurdles he overcame and the impact he made.

More Than Just a Fight

Throughout a heartfelt celebration, Due shared insights about his unwavering commitment to eradicating racism—not only for Black individuals but for all people. His journey started in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he was born in 1934. After graduating from FAMU’s College of Law in 1963, Due moved to Florida to dive headfirst into the civil rights movement after witnessing the unjust arrest of a fellow student.

A Family Affair

The early birthday gala in Atlanta, expertly organized by his daughter, Johnita Due, featured a compelling mix of 30 attendees in person and an additional 20 joining via Zoom. Notable guests included professors from the University of Miami and Florida International University, all coming together to applaud Due’s remarkable impact in Florida and beyond.

Reflections and Remembrances

Former members of the NAACP Miami-Dade County chapter couldn’t help but reminisce about their collaborations with Due in the early days of his activism, highlighting his importance within that crucial movement. Tananarive Due, another one of his daughters, delivered a passionate tribute, celebrating her father’s resilience, humor, and lifelong dedication to justice.

The Roots of Activism

John Due’s advocacy journey blossomed at FAMU, where he assisted attorneys in research efforts for arrested students and participated in the Freedom Rides, which aimed at desegregating interstate buses. After graduating, Due’s work took him to Mississippi, where he played a vital role in monitoring violence against civil rights activists and representing cases for the Congress of Racial Equality. His dedication has not gone unnoticed; he was inducted into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2018.

A Diverse Portfolio

During his tenure as the director of the Office of Black Affairs in Miami, Due focused on welfare rights, education quality, and immigration issues—areas crucial to uplift his community. In 2022, FAMU proudly honored him and his fellow original law school graduates by dedicating a plaque at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, further solidifying his legacy.

Recognition from Peers

FAMU’s interim president Timothy Beard aptly referred to Due as a “living legend” of the legal and civil rights movements. Paul Ortiz from the University of Florida also took time to join the celebrations and expressed the significance of the oral history book that chronicles Due’s life.

An Honorary Achievement

To crown it all, Due received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from UF in 2020, a gesture acknowledging his extraordinary contributions to civil rights and education. John Due Jr. may have turned 90, but his fervor and commitment to creating a better future remain ever-present, proving that age is just a number when it comes to fighting for justice.

As his family, friends, and colleagues continued to celebrate, one thing was clear: John Due Jr. has forever etched his name in the chronicles of history, inspiring future generations to carry the torch of equality.