Freeman advocates for education, raises funds for foundation in Guinea

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Students of all cultures crowded the Bovee University Center Auditorium to hear Ron Freeman speak on his experiences with civil rights.

Freeman is 1968 Olympic medalist and advocate of global education. The event, entitled “Black Gold,” was sponsored by the Multicultural Education Center, Student Budget Allocation Committee, King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Professor Program, and Alpha Phi Alpha. About 65 people attended.

Halfway through his speech, Freeman presented a video of the day in Mexico City where he ran the second leg of the 4×400 relay in 43.2 seconds — one of the fastest times ever.

The audience responded with laughter at Freeman’s distance in the race compared to his competitors.

“When we arrived in Mexico City we felt we had to demonstrate,” he said. “We had our white brothers and sisters in our meetings with us. We in our hearts wanted to make a statement to America that we are somebody and we need to be respected.”

Freeman said they weren’t running to win a medal, but to get on the victory stand to make their statement “proper.”

He emphasized the importance of traveling outside the U.S. and becoming global leaders in education. He also identified a few lesser known black history facts.

“We need to see that Black History Month is just not about black history, it’s about American history, which is world history because we are the embodiment of the melting pot of cultures,” Freeman said.

All of the proceeds from Freeman’s speeches go to his school and foundation in Guinea. He calls his improvements to Guinea his “spiritual mission.”

“It just sounded interesting, the story behind everything with him and his life, what he did and what brings him here today,” said Dearborn Heights sophomore Megan Schilbe.

Ulana Klymyshyn, Multicultural Education Program director, said Freeman’s speech gave students an opportunity to find out about the Civil Rights Movement and how it affected athletes.

“They get a better understanding of what life was like in the ’60s,” she said. “It’s always important to learn our history.”

The speech ended with a question and answer session.