The eighth annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet in Rock Island on Saturday at the Skellington Manor on Saturday focused on national topics that have been front and center in the media over the last two weeks.
Many of the speakers at Saturday's banquet focused on the tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina, when a 21-year-old man opened fire inside a church and killed nine people.
"I think the feeling [in Rock Island] is the same as throughout the country. I think what we need to do is begin to call this what it is, and that was an act of domestic terror," said Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, President of the Rock Island County NAACP chapter.
"This is the time we need to come together because we are absolutely at that tipping point. We really need to come together as a community, as a country, to have a real discussion, a real honest dialogue, about race in this country," said Tyler-Jamison.
Keynote speaker and popular radio talk show host, Joe Madison, said he hopes to see people take more action now, rather than just focus on discussing the issues.
"It is about time that we recognize we've got a deep problem in the United States of America and we have to figure out how to reconcile our differences," said Madison.
White America must take the responsibility in educating their generation that they must be anti-racist," Madison said. "You start at home. You start at the dinner table. When that crazy uncle or that relative or that friend says something that's racist, you must hold them accountable, you must tell them that there's no place for that."
Madison also touched on the subject of Rachel Dolezal, former leader of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, Washington, who stepped down from her job after it was revealed she had been lying about her race, and was actually white.
"You do not have to change your physical characteristics to stop racism in America, all you have to do is speak up. You don't have to pretend to be something you're not. Be real about it and address it head on," said Madison.
The diverse banquet serves a fundraiser for the yearly programs the Rock Island County NAACP puts on, and as an award ceremony for those who promote equality in Rock Island County.
Four students received $500 college scholarships on Saturday, the highest number of students ever in one year for the rock Island County NAACP.
There were also seven Image Awards presented at the banquet.
James Andrews, a retiring Rock Island County educator, received the Education Image Award. The non-profit organization, Polyrhythms, received the Arts and Entertainment Image Award. Chasson Randle received the Youth Development Image Award. Reverend Jarrod Parker received the Religion Image Award. Retired Rock Island County Probation Service Officer, David VanLanding received the Justice Image Award. Stella Schneekloth received the Civil Rights Image Award.