Greensboro to honor Guilford County School Board member as civil rights champion

The city of Greensboro will recognize Guilford County School Board member T. Dianne Bellamy Small on Monday for her civil rights advocacy work. 

She is one of five people who will be honored at the city’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. The theme of the event this year is "Every Day Champions: Honoring Local Civil Rights Pioneers.” 

Bellamy Small spoke about the recognition during a Board of Education meeting on Jan. 10. 

“I just want to say, I don't seek awards. I never have. And I'm very humbled and thankful that the city of Greensboro chose to, particularly with this award, because of what it's named,” she said. "Everyday people, because I'm for the everyday people.”

The city called Bellamy Small “a fixture in the greater Greensboro community for decades” in a press release, and gave a long list of reasons for her recognition. Those include her work with the state Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Greensboro Aquatic Center’s Learn to Swim Program.

Bellamy Small thanked her colleagues on the school board for working with her over the years. 

“Sometimes I realize I, you know, push hard for some things, but it's because of who we serve. It's not about us,” she said. “And I just want the community to know that I've been a soldier out here for a long, long time.”

Superintendent Whitney Oakley congratulated Bellamy Small at the Jan. 10 school board meeting.

“She is being recognized for having made substantial concrete contributions in furtherance of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's vision, civil rights, civil liberties and human rights in Greensboro,” Oakley said. 

This marks the 37th year of the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. It may be seen live on the city’s YouTube channel starting at 7:30 a.m.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.