Local activist wins Pauli Murray award

One of the most vocal supporters of the historically black and low-income neighborhood that hosts the county’s landfill was honored Sunday for his activism.

Rev. Robert Campbell was honored with the Pauli Murray Award for Human Relations in a ceremony hosted by the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

Elizabeth McManus and Joy Jovitz also received awards. McManus is a local high school student that has participated in mission trips to Africa. Jovitz is the founder of Door to Door, a music therapy program that operates at UNC Hospitals.

Campbell has played an active role in a struggle to end environmental racism in his neighborhood. He is president of the Rogers-Eubanks Coalition, as well as a chef at Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

In November 2009, Campbell went to Washington, D.C. to discuss those issues with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Department of Health and Human Services officials.

Campbell said he accepted the award with a respect for the character that the award’s namesake, Pauli Murray, stood for.

“The prestige and honor tells us that we are doing something right within the community,” he said.

Murray was an activist, lawyer, writer and priest who spent her childhood in Durham. She was the first black woman to earn a Doctor of Juridical Sciences from Yale Law School.

She also received degrees from Howard Law School and the University of California at Berkeley. Murray applied to UNC School of Law but was denied admission because of her race. She spent her life promoting justice and equality and standing up to discrimination.

Campbell said his future plans include getting grant funding to take ownership of a community garden.

His colleagues cited his character and determination as reasons for his success.

“He’ll be a shining example for potential for greatness” said Stephanie Perry, a member of the Orange County Organizing Committee.

Joe Nanney, chairman of the commission, said he expects Campbell to continue to fight for his community.

“He gives a voice to people who otherwise don’t have one,” he said.



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