On Tuesday, Feb. 20, students gathered to pay tribute to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. at Kean University's Martin Luther King Jr. Garden.
The tribute began with an introduction by Susan Figueroa , managing assistant director for Community Service and Civic Engagement. Figueroa gave an overview of the history of the nationally acclaimed Day of Service attributed to King, as she explained how difficult it had been to establish a holiday in honor of him. The effort started after his death and was initially intended to celebrate him and his memory on his birthday on Jan. 15. On Nov. 2, 1983, President Reagan signed a bill that created a federal holiday in honor of King. It wasn't until 1986 that the holiday began, 1991 that all states agreed to embrace the holiday at a state level and 2000 when all states completely titled a holiday named after King, enforcing the holiday. Figueroa presented the circumstances in which the holiday was established to remind the audience not to take King's Day of Service lightly as well as to introduce Kean University's Week of Service in honor of King.
The next presentation was then given by the Office of Africana Study's Director James Conyers, Ph.D. He gave an empowering speech about his personal experiences with Malcolm X and later his studies of the revolutionary leader and MLK. He emphasized the need for students to take the challenge of fixing racism and prejudice through education and activism.
The next presentation was given by Kean University's Poetry Club's Chidinma Opara. She recited Ijeoma Umebinyuo's poem titled "Immigrants: First Generation." Umebinyuo was born in Nigeria and her poem pays tribute to immigrants from Africa who sacrifice so much and take on the hardest, but most unappreciated jobs to be able to survive in the United States. She took note of the security guards, manicurists, janitors, food workers and many others who have left home in hopes of a better life and of the struggles that they must overcome to do so. The poem then ends with a recognition of the children of these immigrants stating, "Here's to their children who carry the heartbeats of their motherland and even in sleep, speak with pride about their fathers. Keep on." This poem commemorates the struggles of the immigrants and their children's continued love of the home country and of their efforts to keep on despite the oppression that they or their family must face.
Ymani Hawkins of the KU Poetry Club also recited King's speech, "A Great Time to be Alive." The speech empowers listeners to stay motivated in their activist efforts by reminding them of all the accomplishments and obstacles that have been overcome. The speech also reminds listeners in part of the continued oppression and discrimination of disadvantaged groups while also contrasting this dark reality with the hope of a brighter future. The speech serves as inspiration for students from their efforts and problems.
Afterward, speakers Brandon Harris and KU Poetry Club President Tierra Hooker, presented their original poetry in light of the occasion. Harris gave an impromptu speech that was inspired by the holiday and memorial that was both personal and relatable to his peers. The poem was titled, "Dreamfield," and addressed the spirit of King and Harris's own attempts to be an activist.
Hooker gave a speech she had written during a KU Poetry Club workshop in which she reflected on some connotations that may have been attached to her character by others. Her poem became a reflection of her identity and culture as an African American Woman in this society. Her poem acknowledged the attempts by society to squander her dignity and culture as well as her own insistence to continue being her best and most honest self in spite of others's efforts. Hooker stated, "I am a walking/ Representation/ Of a past/ that isn't pretty/ And so they try to/ Wash it away/ But sweetie/ The truth cannot/ Be twisted/ As long as we insist that/ It be told."
It is with this energy inspired by integrity, sadness, understanding, reflection discrimination, oppression, hope and faith that the Martin Luther King Remembrance and Vigil concluded.
