Old South to Present Boston Globe's Adrian Walker with Open Door Award

Boston, Massachusetts – On Sunday, May 13, the historic Old South Church in Boston will present their Open Door Award to The Boston Globe’s Adrian Walker. Walker will be honored during Phillis Wheatley Sunday, Old South’s annual celebration of the first published African American poetess. Wheatley joined Old South in 1771, and the church continues to celebrate the icon who opened doors for persons of color and enslaved persons across the country.

Old South Church created the Open Door Award in 2014. Carved in stone above the Portico to Old South’s 1875 National Historic Landmark building are these words from the Book of Revelation: BEHOLD, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR. They take these words to mean that in God’s name, it is their duty and privilege to pry open doors shut against any persons and to keep oiling the hinges of any doors rusting shut.

(G)RACE Speaks, Old South Church’s committee working to see, name, and address matters of race within the life of the church, is behind the presentation of this year’s award. They are recognizing Adrian Walker for his significant contributions to the discourse around race and racism in the city of Boston. Walker serves as The Boston Globe’s Metro Columnist, and was a lead contributor behind the Spotlight Team that produced the highly acclaimed series, Boston. Racism. Image. Reality.

Previous recipients of the Open Door award include:

Callie Crossley, Pioneer Broadcast journalist and host of Under the Radar with Callie Crossley,. on WGBH

Sarah-Ann Shaw, Boston’s first African-American female TV reporter 

The Honorable Elizabeth Warren, Senator

His Excellency Duval Patrick, Governor

Larry Kessler, Boston Living Center

Dr. Kenneth Mayor, The Fenway Institute

Bishop Tom Shaw, Bishop, Diocese of MA

Rev Frank Schaefer, Methodist Minister defrocked for officiating at his gay son’s wedding

Rev Judy Hanlon, founder of Asylum Seekers Ministry (in Worcester MA for gay people seeking asylum from such countries as Uganda, Kenya, Saudi Arabia)

The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Abbess Sr. Rosetta Stone)