Lee University to host events honoring MLK day
Photo by Multimedia Reporter Annie Youther
Lee University’s Office of Racial and Ethnic Relations is hosting a week of events to celebrate the 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day.
The commemorative week will begin on Monday, Jan. 17. Lee professors Dr. Mary McCampbell and Dr. Ruthie Wienk will present ‘Music of the Civil Rights Era’ in the Johnson Lecture Hall at 6 p.m.
On Sunday evening, President Mark Walker contacted the Lee family via email to announce classes would not start on Monday until 12:20 p.m. Due to the inclement weather, the MLK Jr. Unity March, which was supposed to be held on Monday morning at 8:45, was postponed.
The MLK Jr. Dream Weekend 2022 Community Worship Service, hosted by Broad Street United Methodist Church, was supposed to be held on Jan. 16 but was also postponed due to inclement weather.
On Tuesday, Jan. 18 former minor league baseball player and inspirational speaker Chris Singleton will address students in various venues. According to Singleton’s website, he aims to share “a message of resilience, forgiveness and unity following the loss of his mother in the 2015 Mother Emanuel Church tragedy in Charleston, SC. Chris now shares his message with over 60 organizations annually.” Students can hear from him during the following events:
Tuesday morning chapel at 10:40 a.m. in the Conn Center
A Q&A session in the Squires Recital Hall at 2:45 p.m.
‘A Time of Reflection’ in the Johnson Lecture Hall at 7 p.m.
The week will continue with more events which include:
A book signing on Wednesday, Jan. 19 in the Science and Math Complex at 12 p.m. The signing will highlight published Lee faculty, staff, students and community members. They will talk about their respective works and the inspiration behind their creative writing processes.
A screening of “Honoring a Civil Rights Leader: Cruz Reynoso” on Thursday, Jan. 20 in the Doris Johnson Screening Room at 6 p.m. Reynoso, a trailblazing lawyer, jurist and law professor, was the first Latino California Supreme Court justice. This screening will be hosted by Rondall Reynoso, Cruz Reynoso’s son and an art professor at Lee.
Rondall Reynoso believes hosting events for MLK day is a “crucial part” of honoring the nation's history.
“Social justice is inseparable from our call of how to live as Christians, [and] seeing the work of others can inspire us to pursue God through civil rights activism,” said Reynoso. “There is a long history of pursuing justice in our nation. At a time in our nation that is very challenging, it is important to remember that history. As an educational institution it is important that we expose students to the wide range of civil justice activity.”
The week will conclude on Friday, Jan. 21 with ‘One Body’, a time of worship hosted by the Mosaic Council. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.
Gloria Scott-Richmond, director of racial and ethnic relations, believes the dedicatory week will promote continuing the legacy of MLK.
“The words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continue to inspire and motivate us: ‘If you can't fly, then run, if you can't run, then walk, if you can't walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving forward,” said Scott-Richmond. “As we continue to move forward along the path of racial reconciliation, the purpose of this week is to remind our Lee community and beyond the importance of the legacy and relevancy of ‘the dream’ in 2022.”
Travis Black, a sophomore digital media major and student leader who helped plan the events, said it has been a “tedious but rewarding journey” planning for MLK week. He hopes the community will enjoy each event.
“It’s very significant when people can come together and be in one accord,” Black said.
Scott-Richmond shares those same sentiments.
“My hope is that we would be motivated to be a part of God's dream for a lifetime, inspired to care beyond words, and encouraged to promote unity, seeking to leave every space better than we found it,” says Scott-Richmond.
Lee University joins the nation in observing the late civil rights activist, preacher and philosopher.
An address from President Joe Biden says MLK day should be a day of reflection and remembrance.
“On that day, Dr. King shared a dream that has continued to inspire a Nation: To bring justice where there is injustice, freedom where there is oppression, peace where there is violence, and opportunity where there is poverty,” said Biden. “Today, people of all backgrounds continue that march — raising their voices to confront abuses of power, challenge hate and discrimination, protect the right to vote, and access quality jobs, health care, housing, and education. On this day, we reflect on the legacy of a man who issued a call to the conscience of our Nation and our world.”
