Events honor King's life and legacy

The University community commemorated the birth of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day-long series of programs yesterday. Much of the day's activities were student-planned and facilitated, including a morning workshop focused on building a stronger community through self-improvement, and an afternoon session centered on defining a unified 1994 agenda for the University's African American community. These events were jointly sponsored by the Black Student League and the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association. Each used group exercises and discussion to emphasize teamwork and communication. "Communication is the key to moving forward," said College senior and BSL President Kaplan Mobray. "We need to capitalize on our strengths, use our resources, do our research and strategize." The ideas of community, cohesiveness and cooperation expressed by the dozen or so students within these groups also coincided with the theme of the day – "Forward always through building a common agenda." "You can have diversity in a community," said communications graduate student Lynne Edwards. "We can't all fight the battle in the same way, but we need to have a common goal." College sophomore Michael Coffey echoed Edwards' sentiments. "A lot of us here are too hard on one another," he said. "We need to be more nurturing and have more meetings like this." Commemoration activities continued into the afternoon with a speech by English professor Houston Baker, director of the University's Center for the Study of Black Literature and Culture. Baker characterized King as a "drum major in the black public sphere," explaining that "King's schooling and training allowed him to set forth a new symbology, a new energy [of black moral culture]." And, despite the miserable weather, about 70 people attended an evening speech by nationally-known psychologist, sexologist and Essence magazine columnist Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant. Interim President Claire Fagin, who spoke at the program, described King as "not a man who would let genuine differences turn into ugly antagonisms and hatred." "We never learned how to build community," she added. "It's time we learned how to do it, and do it right. What is at stake is our future and that of your children." Wharton sophomore Kendrick Cox, who serves on the executive boards of both the United Minorities Council and the BSL, offered a perspective on King's influence. "[King] was a guiding light and a symbol of change in an era gone mad," he said. Grant began her remarks, which she entitled "The State of the Dream – Can We All Get Along?" by recounting how, at age 12, she had refused to give up her bus seat to a white person in Jacksonville, Florida. Then, centering on the importance of history, Grant explained that a sense of one's history leads to a better understanding of one's destiny. "Part of our problem is that we've forgotten our heritage," she said. "Without dreams, without vision, the people perish." Audience members said they enjoyed Grant's remarks. "[She was] very inspiring," said College junior Jennifer Mascarenhas. "I believe she brought some insight into issues the University, as well as the community-at-large, needs to address," she added. Social work graduate student Nicole Gaskin echoed Mascarenhas' statements. "I think Dr. Grant is a dynamic individual, and I'm so glad she was able to come here today to share her inspirational words," Gaskin said. "I hope that everyone makes individual commitments to create social change."