In 1999, Ricky Byrdsong was murdered by a self-proclaimed white supremacist.  Byrdsong was a Skokie resident and the first African-American coach of the Northwestern University men’s basketball team. He was also the father of 3 young children, 2 of whom were with him near their home when he was shot. The man who murdered Byrdsong also shot 5 other people of color in Indiana and Illinois, as well as 6 Orthodox Jews in Rogers Park. Byrdsong’s wife of 20 years, Sherialyn, established a foundation which has collaborated with the YWCA Evanston/North Shore to turn Byrdsong’s tragedy into a victory over hate. Each year on Father’s Day, Sherialyn kicks off the Race Against Hate, which unites thousands of people of different racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate diversity, promote reconciliation, and declare that racism is not welcome or tolerated ANYWHERE in America.