President Joe Biden, right, presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor, to Earvin "Magic" Johnson in the East Room of the White House, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Joe Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to 19 recipients, including actor Denzel Washington, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and posthumously, civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.
President Joe Biden, right, presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, to Denzel Washington in the East Room of the White House, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The ceremony took place in the White House East Room, where Biden praised the recipients for their contributions to America’s fabric.
President Joe Biden, right, posthumously presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, to Doris Hamer Richardson on behalf of her late aunt Fannie Lou Hamer in the East Room of the White House, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Established in 1945, the Medal of Freedom was modernized by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor figures like Marian Anderson, the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.
Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC.
