LETTER: Togetherness

I would like to express my gratitude to Jessica Dixon and the Black Student League, the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, the Community Service Living and Learning Program, and the other groups on campus who provided this university with a memorable schedule of events commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It afforded us an opportunity to celebrate this remarkable man's presence and lifetime achievements. All those who believe in God should thank Him for giving the world a chance to see a love as powerful as that of Reverend King, Jr. What a blessing he truly was. This question was posed by the incoming president of the Black Student League -- is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day over? Does it only consist of a 24-hour time period? Those of us at the rally emphatically responded "No" and I hope we all can live up to that promise of remembering and living the peaceful, yet powerful, call to action he taught us. However, I am concerned by the decreasing participation on the part of Penn's Caucasian students that I have witnessed in my four years here. When I began attending these commemorative services a few years ago, albeit in the absence of Jessica Dixon, the highlighted event was the candlelight vigil and I did not notice my presence as being such a singular representation of the non-black community. Where were the majority of Penn students on January 20, 1992? And why are fewer Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and Caucasian students participating in events such as these? At a time when the progress made during the Civil Rights movement is being reversed or impeded, we all need to be united and equally concerned. Each member of this community needs to feel empowered and supported by every other member. The University of Pennsylvania needs to become a truly integrated community, not a segregated one. This distinction was powerfully articulated by Professor Eric King during a seminar Monday afternoon. To be truly integrated there needs to be full reciprocity between groups; equal contribution and participation, resulting in fair and equitable results for all concerned. Integration does not mean opening the doors to the African-American community and then expecting them to become absorbed into the majority's status quo. Rather, it implies that two groups from opposing backgrounds can contribute equally to a discussion and discover an outcome beneficial to both. However, before such discussion can occur, these groups must feel equally empowered. No one needs to sacrifice history, culture, religion, or ideology in a truly integrated society. And no one is deemed superior. This is a goal for which we all must strive. I hope in the years ahead we see an increased willingness from each member of this diverse student body to contribute to making Penn an environment of mutual respect, full reciprocity, and daily remembrance of those who struggled and died for the betterment of our world. ERIN RACCAH Wharton '92