Sheyann Webb-Christburg to Give Keynote Address at
UNCA's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Noted civil rights activist Sheyann Webb-Christburg will give the keynote address at UNCA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. A book signing will follow. The talk is free and open to the public.

As an eight-year old, Webb-Christburg was known as Martin Luther King’s "Smallest Freedom Fighter." In 1965, she walked along side King in many marches, including the Selma march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on "Bloody Sunday." Her moving and dramatic story is captured in her memoirs and is also a major part of the book and television series, "Eyes on the Prize -- America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965." Disney Films recently produced a made-for-television movie entitled "Selma Lord Selma" about Webb-Christburg’s experiences.

Now a dedicated youth advocate, Webb-Christburg currently serves as Coordinator of Student Activities at Alabama State University.

The talk is sponsored by UNCA’s African-American Student Association, Humanities Program, Multicultural Student Programs and Philosophy Department.

For more information, call UNCA’s Multicultural Student Programs at 828/251-6671.

Media Contacts:

• Octavia Wright, UNCA Multicultural Student Programs Coordinator, 828/251-6671
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant, 828/251-6526