Center gets its 1st in-house lecture

It has been 13 years since the Center for Black Culture and History was renamed for Sonja Haynes Stone and 11 more since the first annual Sonja Haynes Stone memorial lecture.

But Tuesday marked the first night the lecture was held in the freestanding center that bears her name, which opened Aug. 21.

Precious Stone, the daughter of the civil rights activist, was the keynote speaker at the event.

She proudly showed how Sonja Haynes Stone's legacy continues at the University, said Harold Woodard, associate dean of the office of student academic counseling.

"(Sonja Haynes) Stone left an outstanding legacy on all students on campus," said junior Danielle Allen, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Inc. "It was important for us to come and show support for her daughter."

The Black Student Movement Gospel Choir filled the drum-shaped auditorium with song before Anita Walton, Stone Center advisory board chairwoman, welcomed the crowd.

"Tonight, we celebrate the life and legacy of (Sonja Hayes) Stone, as well as her life and legacy at UNC," Walton said. "Her legacy is education, transforming the lives of others, service, social justice and inspiration."

But Walton said Sonja Haynes Stone is best remembered as a caring and supportive daughter, mother, teacher, colleague, mentor and friend.

The BSM choir again took the stage before Precious Stone was introduced, and the group asked the audience to stand with them as it sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."

After thanking the many people involved in the evening, Precious Stone recounted memories she has of her mother. "I could continue on with the many details of her life, but I want to touch on what her life and legacy meant to me," she said.

Women in the crowd cheered in response as Precious Stone explained how her mother taught her to always stand independently and proud of her culture.

"She continued to wear her afro, committed to her natural hairstyle, regardless of the injustices around her," she said.

Precious Stone also spoke of how she now strives to mimic her mother's maternal ways, and she talked about the importance of parents in society.

She said she will continue to learn from her mother, even years after Sonja Haynes Stone's death in 1991.

She concluded her speech with a challenge for the students.

"You should feel empowered," she said. "This is your institution, and it's of upmost importance for us to support places like this and programs like the African Studies program here."

After Precious Stone was presented with gifts from Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity Inc., she said that her mother "would be thrilled to see this impressive center for black culture and history, but would never have imagined it would have been named after her."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.