A series of events this week celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Organized by the Student Multicultural Programming Office, the theme is “Silence is Complicity!”
On Tuesday, students were invited to swing by the Schwarz Student Center to “take a stance” and take a photo with the commitment that speaks most powerfully to them. Director Ilan Rodriguez said the photos will be arranged into a collage similar to last year’s MLK student-made handprint collage.
On Wednesday, minister, activist, and scholar Nyle Fort spoke to Upper School students at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly. “Stories matter. Stories shape how we think and tell what is possible. The stories we tell about Dr. King matter a lot because his story is our story,” he said.
Mr. Fort spoke about the history of African Americans’ struggle for equality in all areas of life, which continues today. “Dr. King not only had a dream but he asked basic questions about society. He cared about much more than just racial justice,” said Mr. Fort. “He worked for economic justice for poor people. He was against violence in all forms, especially the Vietnam War. Still, King never lost hope in the possibility in the remaking of our country. He died calling for a revolution of all our values. If we want to complete King’s dream, we must break free of the story that things are getting better.”
Tonight, the Melissa Gold Visiting Artist, Ronald K. Brown’s, Brooklyn-based dance company, Evidence, will give a dance performance in King Theatre. On Saturday, a student group will attend the Joyful Noise Gospel Concert at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. Students will travel to Governor’s Academy on Sunday for a screening of the documentary MAINELAND followed by a Q&A with Director Miao Wang and a breakout session.
To wrap up the week’s events, the annual MLK Jr. Brunch will take place in the Caroline Saltonstall Gymnasium (CSG) on Monday. The theme for this year’s program is activism, and the goal is to focus time and energy on community service projects. Activities include painting a mural, writing letters to veterans, assembling hygiene donation kits to give to Hope and Comfort, and organizing clothing donations for Catie’s Closet.
