President Nan Keohane looks on as John Hope Franklin cuts the ribbon to open the center named after him. At left, jazz singer Nnenna Freelon performs at Thursday night s celebratory dinner All it took was a man of slight build, gray hair and a kind face to induce comedian Bill Cosby, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon to come to Duke. Who's Who list of friends, family and admirers to campus last weekend for the opening of the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies. The famous student praised his renowned teacher, explaining that while athletic heroes were common, Franklin was unique as a historian hero.
Every night there's another champion.
Champions get put on people's shoulders, but heroes, when they win, put people on their shoulders. I'm glad Duke is going to immortalize his works. The aim of the center is to connect scholars across academic disciplines and engage in research and teaching of issues of global impact. We are seeking to establish interdisciplinary studies so that they might illuminate truth wherever it may arise. Comedian Bill Cosby stressed the significance of the center's opening.