TULSA, Okla. — Renowned musician Tom Morello accepted the annual Woody Guthrie Prize inside Cain's Ballroom before giving an impassioned speech of social activism and performing an acoustic show Sept. 25.
For the last nine years the Woody Guthrie Center awards the prize to "best exemplifies Woody Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change."
Previous winners include Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson, and John Mellencamp.
The Woody Guthrie Centerpreserves and educates people about his legacy as "one of the first artists who realized the power of his craft to create social change. He became a voice for those who were disenfranchised and a source of power for those who needed strength. Today, Woody is an inspiration to realize the power of your own voice. His message is still relevant and vital in the fight for equality and justice."
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Director of The Woody Guthrie Center, Cady Shaw, told 2 News the event is as much about Tulsa's people and culture as it is about the honoree. "Northeast Oklahoma is a really interesting hot pocket of culture."
While the folk legend hailed from Okemah and not Tulsa, he inspired seeds of the Tulsa Sound, said Anna Canoni, Guthrie's granddaughter.
"Wherever he went, Woody was steeped in the music and the arts of that community," Canoni told 2 News. "The fact that there is even a designated arts district in Tulsa, I think, would've been fantastic. Woody would've loved that."
Morello credits Guthrie and his background for fueling his own musical inspiration and social activism. Part of the museum includes recorded interviews with Morello talking about Guthrie's influence on his activism.
Morello, both solo and with the band Rage Against the Machine, are known for taking part in protests for worker's rights, the environment and other social issues. He co-founded an organization "to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice together."
He talked about Guthrie's influence in his speech.
"Woody's music addressed many of the same issues facing us today: poverty, police brutality, immigrant rights, racial and economic inequality," Morello said during his acceptance speech Wednesday night.
"Tom Morello is someone that really walks the walk and talks the talk," Shaw said. "He stands up for what he believes in and he supports voices that don't really get to be platformed."
"(Guthrie) wrote hard-hitting songs for hard hit people," Canoni added. "Tom does that as well. And he really speaks truth to power. Not scared."
While celebrating a rock star, championing Tulsa's history to empower its culture is not lost on the occasion.
"100% of the funds that we raise in this event go back to community programming, whether it's educational programming for school children to come visit (or) whether it's classes we teach," Shaw said.
"Again, it's about a large swath of people. It's not about a specific style or genre or person," Canoni said. "So I think Woody would've been really proud to be part of this community."
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