The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Star-studded birthday bash for former mayor
Andrew Young Award honorees include Joe Biden, Ron Clark, Akon.
Thousands, including former VP Joe Biden, help Andrew Young celebrate his 85th birthday.
Former Atlanta Mayor and Ambassador Andrew Young celebrated his 85th birthday Saturday night with several thousand of his closest friends, family members and loved ones, famous and otherwise.
The Andrew Young International Leadership Awards event — saluting former Vice President Joe Biden, Atlanta educator Ron Clark, recording artist and global philanthropist Akon and other honorees — packed Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta.
“There is only one person who can fill up Philips Arena for a birthday celebration,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who kicked things off after recording artist Cristina Quinones sang the National Anthem.
Reed hailed Young as “one of the most extraordinary individuals that the United States of America has ever produced. He actually has lived a life that has made America great. I wouldn’t be anywhere else tonight but right here. I would not be standing here as the 59th mayor of the city of Atlanta without your involvement in my life.”
Young’s wife, Carolyn, who said her husband’s mind was “as sharp as a ninja’s blade,” delighted the crowd with inspiring and tender remarks.
“I do love my husband and I am proud of him,” she said. “I’m a smart woman so I married a smart man. Not everybody is so lucky. I married a pastor, an activist, a congressman and a diplomat. I found all of this in only one man.”
In closing, she spoke directly to her husband: “Thank you for carrying us so far and thank you for letting me carry with you. I love you.”
Young didn’t give a speech, but his words were projected via big screens throughout the evening in news clips, interviews and other footage. Early on he stood to receive the crowd’s thunderous ovation, showing some birthday dance moves before taking his seat front and center to enjoy the event.
Actor Anthony Anderson served as the evening’s host.
“You were our social media before there was social media,” the star of the ABC series “Blackish” said. “You were making our young people aware of injustices before there was Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. You are a living legend.”
Recording artists Jill Scott, Wyclef Jean, Tulani, Estelle and Anthony Brown performed. Usher had been part of the program but instead joined the roster of stars who performed at a special tribute concert in Manchester, England, spearheaded by Ariana Grande. Terrorists struck after her concert there two weeks ago (and again in London on Saturday night).
Notables and presenters in attendance at Young’s birthday bash included former Gov. Roy Barnes, Braves legend Hank Aaron, Atlanta broadcaster Frank Ski and actress Terri J. Vaughn.
Biden received the Chairman’s Award, an “honor ... given to an individual whose lifelong leadership has demonstrated excellence in areas that reflect Ambassador Young’s life’s work as pastor, activist, U.N. ambassador, congressman and mayor of Atlanta,” the organization announced in a statement before the event.
Biden wasn’t able to attend but sent his well wishes via a lengthy video tribute.
“The world needs the leadership of the United States now more than ever,” he said. Veering into some political commentary without actually mentioning the current occupant of the White House, Biden said, “You haven’t heard this president talk about values. He talks about deals. There’s a lot of doubt and frustration in the world right now.”
Biden and Young go way back, having served together in Congress. The former vice president was a longtime Delaware senator before joining President Barack Obama’s ticket, and Young once served as a Georgia congressman.
“I consider among the great honors of my life I got to serve with you,” Biden said, adding that Obama “stood on your shoulders to be president of the United States.”
Other award recipients included Women’s March on Washington co-chairs Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland; environmental activist and CNN commentator Van Jones; and author and entrepreneur John Hope Bryant.
Educator Clark, co-founder of Atlanta’s renowned Ron Clark Academy, was the first recipient of the night and the most effervescent, demonstrating some of the original rap numbers he creates to teach lessons in a memorable way. When he first came to Atlanta more than a dozen years ago, he recalled, he met Carolyn, then Andrew Young.
“We sat there and he gave me advice. He didn’t know me from Adam. He just knew I wanted to make a difference,” Clark said. “Character is what you do when no one is looking. He is just that type of person.”