LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 16, 2024) — During the 2024 MLK Luncheon on Monday, January 15, at the Lansing Center, Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) — the first Black female Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the state’s history — engaged in a meaningful conversation with American civil rights activist, Ruby Bridges. Ms. Bridges is most known for being the first Black student to integrate into an all-white school in the South in 1960 amid racism.
The luncheon, hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan, focused on civil rights and race-related issues and provided an insightful platform for a candid exchange of perspectives. Sen. Anthony and Ms. Bridges discussed various aspects and challenges of the civil rights movement, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical truths. Furthermore, they both touched upon personal challenges, triumphs and their collective ongoing efforts toward achieving greater equity and equality.
“Talking with Ruby Bridges was truly enlightening and empowering,” said Sen. Anthony. “She is a civil rights icon and someone who I have looked up to since I was a young girl. Conversations like these are instrumental in bridging gaps and working towards a society where every voice is heard, and every community is seen.”
Sen. Anthony, in her capacity as the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and First Vice Chairperson of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, has remained committed to advancing racial equity through shaping legislation and advocating for state budget allocations that invest in marginalized communities that have been historically overlooked.