(AP) -- (AP) - Marian Wright Edelman couldn't use her rural South Carolina library when she was growing up because she was black - but she'll be welcome in the brand new library named after her.
The $4.7 million Marian Wright Edelman Public Library opens Sunday, more than a half-century after she was denied use of the Marlboro County Public Library.
Edelman is founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund and has been an advocate for the disadvantaged for 40 years.
Bennettsville Rep. Doug Jennings said Edelman's name helped raise about $2 million in private donations to build a better library in the poor, rural county.
Bill and Hillary Clinton contributed $100,000 to the library. Hillary Clinton worked for Edelman when Clinton was in law school and has said Edelman was one of her mentors.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
To leave a comment, scroll down and click on "post a comment."
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
