Program focuses on youth

About 350 University community members participated in the African American Association of Administrators, Faculty and Staff Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Program in the Penn Tower Hotel yesterday. The program -- which featured a speech from Philadelphia City Councilwoman Augusta Clark -- stressed the value of the black community's youth. "If we don't support the young, we can't expect them to support us," Clark said. Students from Grace Temple Christian Academy Choir sang various selections including "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the African American National Anthem. Malik Culberath, a student at the Barry Elementary School and the winner of the AAAFS Essay Contest, read an essay urging the black community to concentrate on protecting its civil rights and continuing King's dream. Speakers also stressed that the community should celebrate Martin Luther King Day every day, not just on the holiday. "[We should] fight the good fight," said Jim Gray, Tri-Chair for Staff, AAAFS. "Don't let anything divert your eyes from the prize." Clark's keynote speech criticized many governmental practices and issues, including the election of Newt Gingrich -- whom Clark termed "Newt the Brute." "He wasn't appointed," Clark said, adding that she is appalled that black voters contributed to Gingrich's win. "Newt stepped in the breach that we created when we didn't act." Clark also pointed out that the struggle ahead of the African-American community will be difficult -- although she said it cannot compare to past barriers. "Maximize the power of one," she said. "What will you do with the one person you are?As bad as things are today, this ain't nothing compared to getting out of slavery." Participants said they found the program to be a rewarding experience. "It was just what we needed to hear," said Financial Services Officer in the Office of Student Financial Services Linda Taylor-Burch. "We were just talking about how inspired we felt hearing the program." Human Resources Records Assistant Katrina Neely agreed. "I'm really glad they have this commemorative service," she said. "With today's devastation of urban community, we need to take time out and say that the dream does continue and everything that Dr. King said still holds true." Neely said that some of the problems she worries about are inequality in getting jobs and being promoted. However, she said she does not see iniquity in the classroom. Many black University employees attended yesterday's commemorative program. According to Vanessa Dorsey, the chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, this was due to a request from the President's Office asking each University department to give their employees an extra hour to celebrate the King holiday. Other activities in the King series were better attended by students of many races. Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent gave one explanation for this phenomenon. "It's more of an opportunity for non-black students to show their support, while black students don't have to prove their respect for Dr. King," she said.

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