2008 Woodie Awards
The College celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. day with a keynote speaker
Julie Eisen
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: News
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The evening's theme centered around celebrating song and its impact on African American culture, especially during times of unrest. Dr. Ethel Drayton-Craig, Director of the Multicultural Center and organizer of the celebration, opened the event by saying, "The song helped to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement…and establish a spirit that would not break."
Passionate performances of historically African American songs by InAcchord, the Girls Next Door, Muhlenberg Gospel Choir, ACCO: A Chorus Celebrating Women and Union Baptist Church Mass Choir had the audience in constant rhythmic applause, creating a palpable communal spirit.
Roberta Meek, a 2006 Wescoe School graduate, and Richard W. Cowen '53 dissected "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," the song that is often referred to as the Black National Anthem. They put its words into historical context and had everyone sing the song together with interlaced arms. Dr. Drayton-Craig explained that during the period of the Civil Right Movement, many active churches ended their services by singing this anthem arm-in-arm, symbolizing the idea of "going forward, locked arms in unity."
Dr. Forbes, who was identified by Newsweek Magazine in 1996 as one of the 12 "Most Effective Preachers" in the English-speaking world, charismatically delivered his speech about what Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday celebration represents: tolerance and peace. He voiced concern about the "trivialization of the King day" and enthusiastically asked the audience, "Will you join me in taking it seriously?" Dr. Forbes drew upon his religious background and his political opinions to apply Dr. King's messages of non-violence to today's warring environment.
The day after the event, Dr. Drayton-Craig said that she was "very pleased with the turn out," remarking that many notable people from the community were there. Though disappointed by the small student turn out, Dr. Drayton-Craig said that she was sorry that people missed what she thought was "a magnificent message about the morality of us as world citizens." She focused on the positive, saying, "The right people were there."
For the people who did attend, the celebration and keynote speaker struck cords. One student walked out of the Center for the Arts and answered her ringing cell phone with, "I just heard the most amazing preacher." As Drayton-Craig said, there was a magnificent message for all.