Share
Email
PrintNAACP cites impresario’s black-Jewish work
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The NAACP gave Russell Simmons its Vanguard Award in part for the hip-hop impresario's work leading a black-Jewish group.
"Russell is deserving of this prestigious award because he has used the power of hip-hop to reach and inspire our nation's youth," a news release from Simmons' Foundation for Ethnic Understanding quoted Clayola Brown, the civil rights group's Image Awards chairwoman, as saying. "Combined with his ongoing commitment to strengthening relations between ethnic communities and his generous charitable spirit, Russell was a natural choice to receive this honor."
Simmons chairs the foundation; Rabbi Marc Schneier is its president. In recent years the group has branched out from black-Jewish relations and reached out to Muslim groups as well.
Vanguard Awards are presented to "a person whose groundbreaking work increases our understanding and awareness of racial and social issues."
Simmons received the award Feb. 12 during a live broadcast of the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. Previous honorees include Prince, Steven Spielberg and Aretha Franklin.
Click to login and write a letter to the editor or sign up for the Daily Briefing.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Senators to urge Obama to make Iranian ‘capability’ a red line
- Napolitano to Jewish leaders: No imminent threat
- Pro-Palestinian Presbyterians close Facebook page after complaints
- JFNA lauds Obama on charitable deduction backtrack
- Jewish groups offer mixed response on same-sex marriage ruling
- Calls grow in Congress to reconsider Egypt aid
- For traditional musicians, alternatives to the Friday night concert abound
- Israel grants Bedouin community its first solar field license
