Profile in Courage Award

Profile in Courage Award is a prestigious award presented annually by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in the face of overwhelming opposition, much like John F. Kennedy did during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Nikita Khrushchev during the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. The award is named after John F. Kennedy's book Profiles in Courage, which tells the stories of United States Senators who took unpopular stands on issues, including Daniel Webster during the War of 1812 and Robert A. Taft during the Nuremberg Trials. The award has been presented to a wide range of individuals, including Nelson Mandela for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa, Malala Yousafzai for her advocacy of girls' education in Pakistan, and Angela Merkel for her leadership during the European migrant crisis. The award has also been presented to Barack Obama for his efforts to pass the Affordable Care Act and to Jimmy Carter for his work on human rights in North Korea.

● Introduction

The Profile in Courage Award is a unique award that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership in the face of adversity, often at great personal risk, much like Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and Lech Walesa during the Solidarity movement in Poland. The award is presented by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of John F. Kennedy and promoting public service and civic engagement, in partnership with organizations such as the Carter Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated the kind of courage and leadership that John F. Kennedy admired, including Rosa Parks for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Cesar Chavez for his work on labor rights in the United States, and Shirin Ebadi for her advocacy of human rights in Iran. The award has been presented to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including politicians like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, activists like Gloria Steinem and Harvey Milk, and journalists like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

● History

The Profile in Courage Award was established in 1989 by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation to commemorate the 25th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's book Profiles in Courage, which was published in 1955 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957, with the help of Theodore Sorensen and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.. The award was created to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the kind of courage and leadership that John F. Kennedy admired, including Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War and Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. The first award was presented to Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's daughter, who has continued to be involved in the award process, along with other members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy. Since then, the award has been presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership, including Mikhail Gorbachev for his role in ending the Cold War and Aung San Suu Kyi for her fight for democracy in Myanmar.

● Selection Process

The Profile in Courage Award is selected by a committee of distinguished individuals, including historians like Doris Kearns Goodwin and Michael Beschloss, journalists like Nicholas Kristof and Sarah Kendzior, and public servants like Madeleine Albright and Samantha Power. The committee reviews nominations from the public and selects the winner based on their demonstration of courage and leadership, often in the face of overwhelming opposition, much like Susan B. Anthony during the women's suffrage movement and Bayard Rustin during the Civil Rights Movement. The award is presented at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, which is attended by dignitaries like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, as well as members of the Kennedy family and other prominent individuals like Elie Wiesel and Desmond Tutu.

● Notable Recipients

The Profile in Courage Award has been presented to a wide range of notable individuals, including Nelson Mandela for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa, Malala Yousafzai for her advocacy of girls' education in Pakistan, and Angela Merkel for her leadership during the European migrant crisis. Other notable recipients include Barack Obama for his efforts to pass the Affordable Care Act, Jimmy Carter for his work on human rights in North Korea, and Shirin Ebadi for her advocacy of human rights in Iran. The award has also been presented to activists like Gloria Steinem and Harvey Milk, journalists like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and politicians like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, as well as international leaders like Jacques Chirac and Vladimir Putin.

● Impact and Legacy

The Profile in Courage Award has had a significant impact on the individuals who have received it, as well as on the wider world, much like the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award has recognized and honored individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership, often at great personal risk, and has inspired others to follow in their footsteps, including young leaders like Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The award has also helped to promote public service and civic engagement, and has encouraged individuals to take a stand on important issues, even in the face of overwhelming opposition, much like Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and Lech Walesa during the Solidarity movement in Poland. The award has become a prestigious honor, and is widely recognized as a symbol of courage and leadership, along with other awards like the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Category:Awards established in 1989