Seven changemakers receive W.E.B. Du Bois Medal for cultural impact

Misty Copeland took her final bow at American Ballet Theater last month after 25 years. Behind her, confetti fell. In that moment, she realized something that would echo through Harvard's Sanders Theatre weeks later: representation isn't just about being seen. It's about what seeing makes possible.

Copeland was one of seven honorees at this year's W.E.B. Du Bois Medal ceremony, an annual recognition organized by the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. The medals honor people who've shaped Black culture, scholarship, and civic life in lasting ways. Alongside Copeland were WNBA star Brittney Griner, filmmaker Spike Lee, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn, artist Amy Sherald, entrepreneur George E. Johnson, and Marielle Franco—honored posthumously. Franco, a Rio de Janeiro city council member assassinated in 2018, became the award's first Brazilian recipient.

What These Seven Share

Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center, framed the evening around Du Bois himself—a man who dedicated his life to fighting racism and ethnic hatred, to excellence across arts, business, and public service. Each medalist, Gates suggested, carries that same commitment forward, just in different fields.

Copeland's story is perhaps the most visible. She became the first Black dancer promoted to principal in American Ballet Theater's 85-year history. When she spoke about representation at Sanders Theatre, she wasn't talking abstractly. She was talking about a door held open for generations to come. "It's about transforming a tradition, expanding who's invited to the table, and keeping that door open wide enough for generations to follow," she said.

Artist Amy Sherald discovered Du Bois' "Exhibit of American Negroes"—created for the 1900 Paris World's Fair—while in graduate school. The exhibit used photography and data visualization to counter racist stereotypes. Sherald, now known for her portrait of Michelle Obama, recognized something of herself in Du Bois' method: using images to affirm the beauty, intellect, and complexity of Black life. She realized her own portraiture work was part of the same conversation Du Bois had started over a century earlier.

Brittney Griner's recognition carried different weight. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, she spent 10 months imprisoned in Russia three years ago. Since her release, she's channeled that experience into activism through the organization Bring Our Families Home, advocating for others wrongly detained abroad. When retired WNBA player Allison Feaster presented Griner's medal, she spoke directly to this: "When one of us is in pain, none of us can remain silent."

George E. Johnson, now 98, built a company that revolutionized Black hair care in mid-century America. His business provided well-paying jobs and benefits to Chicagoans for decades. Looking back on his life, Johnson's gratitude was simple and complete: "I am grateful."

The ceremony also included Spike Lee's humor, James Clyburn's careful acknowledgments of longtime staff and loved ones, and readings from Du Bois' own works by Harvard faculty. Family, friends, students, and community members filled Sanders Theatre—a room full of people who came to witness excellence being recognized.

What struck many in attendance was how these seven people, working across dance, sports, film, politics, art, and business, shared a common thread: they expanded what was possible for those who came after them. They didn't just participate in their fields. They transformed them.