In a show of unity to cap a night of celebration, a diverse
crowd made up of hundreds of MTSU students along with several members of the
faculty, staff and wider community formed a circle around the Student Union
Ballroom Monday night.
Holding their blue-lit candles and silently reflecting on a
man whose dream continues to inspire so many, participants in the annual Martin
Luther King Jr. Celebration and Candlelight Vigil had just enjoyed an evening filled
with encouraging words and musical and theatrical tributes to the slain civil
rights leader as well as a reminder that they all have a part to play in the
march toward equality and justice.
Derrick Hayes of Columbus, Georgia, a motivational speaker
and author of “1 WORD is All It Takes,” delivered the keynote address for this
year’s campus observance of the federal holiday, which was sponsored by the
Office of Intercultural & Diversity Affairs and the Center for Student
Involvement and Leadership and hosted by the Kappa Xi chapter of King’s
fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.
“I’m starting to see things in words that I never saw
before,” Hayes said. “Inside of the word ‘life’ is the word ‘if.’ If you don’t
try, who’s to say you will succeed. Because life will take you through
something, only to make you do something … Inside the word ‘destiny’ is the
word ‘tiny,’ the tiny steps … that lead to the big things.”
Hayes, who developed a scholarship fund at his alma mater Tennessee
State University, used the acronym BUILD to urge students to build their own
legacies by: Becoming their true selves, including having a written bio;
Understanding their uniqueness; Investing in networking; Learning from
relationships; and Developing themselves to the fullest.
Wearing a blue T-shirt with the word “W.O.E.” across the
front in big white letters, Hayes asked the crowd to follow one instruction: “Before
you leave here tonight or before you go to sleep, give someone a WOE. That
means give somebody a Word Of Encouragement.”
Hayes also reminded students how much King valued the power
of education to transform lives, an outlook not lost on MTSU alumna De’Janel Henry,
who emceed the celebration.
“This institution not only made my reality a dream, but my
dream my reality,” said Henry, a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority who
earned her master’s degree in education from MTSU in fall 2015.
While Henry reminded the crowd of the “timeless values” that
King exhibited — courage, truth, faith, justice and compassion, Brian Owen,
college pastor for New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro and the Point
Campus Ministry, led a recitation of MTSU’s True Blue Pledge, which outlines
the university’s values, including a commitment to reason, not violence.
Before that, Owen led a prayer in honor of King, a Baptist
minister who “had a relentless dedication to seeing all people created in your
image being recognized and honored as such. His love of the gospel message
drove him to seek the eradication of social injustice. He was compelled to
deliver the gospel of freedom beyond his hometown. God, will you please give us
this same courage and willingness.”
In between were special presentations by Alpha Phi Alpha and
spoken word duo “Soulfool.” MTSU’s Generation of Purpose Gospel Choir sung a
stirring a cappella rendition of “What If God Is Unhappy?” while violinist
Chandler Custer, an Austin Peay State University student from Antioch,
Tennessee, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, played a tribute to Coretta Scott
King; and Don Aliquo, MTSU professor of saxophone and jazz studies, was joined
by student Devante Buford of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a saxophone duet of
“Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” by jazz great Charles Mingus.
Daniel Green, director of the MTSU Office of Intercultural
& Diversity Affairs, also made special presentations to four area middle
school students who participated in an MLK oratorical and art contest where
they could submit an original poem, speech, essay or work of art that honored
King’s message of nonviolence and service through leadership.
After the students shared their winning entries with the
audience, Green presented them with a special medallion and framed certificate.
Among
top administrators in attendance were MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, Deb
Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and
academic services, and Sarah Sudak, associate vice president for student
affairs and dean of students.
For more information about this year’s event, contact Green
at 615-898-5812 or daniel.green@mtsu.edu.
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