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Apple CEO Tim Cook Gives Emotional Speech On Equal Rights

WATCH: Apple CEO Gives Rousing Speech On Equal Rights
Huffington Post UK
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Apple CEO Tim Cook has delivered an emotional speech on the importance of equal rights.

Cook made the speech at the United Nations, while accepting a lifetime achievement award from Auburn University.

In the address he recalled seeing a cross burning when he was still a child growing up in rural Alabama,

"This image was permanently imprinted in my brain, and it would change my life forever," Cook said. "For me the cross burning was a symbol of ignorance, of hatred, and a fear of anyone different than the majority. I could never understand it."

Cook recently wrote a letter to the US Congress asking them to pass laws providing equal rights to straight and gay employees.

"Embracing people's individuality is a matter of basic human dignity and civil rights. It also turns out to be great for the creativity that drives our business," Cook wrote.

"We've found that when people feel valued for who they are, they have the comfort and confidence to do the best work of their lives."

Take a look at the speech, below.

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7 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About Tim Cook
He's Worked In Factories Before(01 of07)
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At the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in February, Cook discussed the issue of poor working conditions in Chinese Foxconn factories, which pump out millions of Apple products each year. During his keynote presentation, Cook revealed that he had worked at a Alabama paper mill and a Virginia aluminum plant in the past. (credit:AP)
He Looks Up To Bobby Kennedy And Martin Luther King, Jr.(02 of07)
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When asked what or who he looks up to, Cook told Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg at All Things D's D10 conference that if they walked into his office, they would see Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He continued, "If you are talking about CEOs that are living ... I have incredible respect for Bob Iger and what he has done at Disney." (credit:AP)
It Took An In-Person Meeting With Steve Jobs For Him To Join Apple(03 of07)
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Cook also revealed at All Things D's D10 that he initially turned down calls from a search firm about an operations position at Apple. "Steve had hired an executive search firm to find someone to run operations," Cook explained. "I had gotten a call a few times, and said no. They kept calling, and they kept calling." But five minutes into an in-person conversation with Jobs, Cook changed his mind and left his former job immediately. (credit:Getty)
He's Never Tried To Be Steve Jobs(04 of07)
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Despite the fact that Cook is constantly measured against the visionary that is Steve Jobs, he hasn't let the comparisons affect him. Cook said in a recent interview at All Things D's D10 conference, "I've never felt the weight of trying to be Steve. It's not who I am, and it's not my goal in life." (credit:AP)
He Thinks Well Of Facebook(05 of07)
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According to Fortune senior editor Adam Lashinsky, Cook once said that Facebook is "the one company that is closest to being like Apple" and that he has a lot of respect for the social network. (credit:AP)
He Likes To Lunch With Employees(06 of07)
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Fortune's Lashinsky also noted that, unlike Jobs, Cook sometimes sits down with his employees at lunchtime, highlighting the contrasting personalities of Apple's current and former CEOs. (credit:Getty)
He's A Fitness Nut(07 of07)
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In a previous piece on Tim Cook, Fortune's Adam Lashinsky pointed out that, on top of being a hard worker, the 51-year-old Cook is a "fitness nut." He likes to go to the gym, hike and ride his bike. (credit:AP)
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