April 3, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I've Been to the Mountaintop” speech - given in Memphis the night before he was assassinated. As a tribute, the CLA Change Team is planning an event during the noon hour on Tuesday, April 3, to celebrate the "Mountaintop" speech and the many, many other important speeches and writings by Dr. King that still resonate today.
Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles tells those who were not alive or too young to remember the speech, "we're not going to get to the place where we can say, 'Dr. King's dream has been realized. Now we can go to the beach.' That's not going to happen. Much of it has been realized, but there is so much to do. But each generation will have its portion, and that helps to keep the dream alive."1
To help keep the dream alive, this program will be constructed around readings of Dr. King’s texts by members of the UMD and Twin-Ports community. Readers from all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate. A few meaningful performances of different types are also encouraged; these could be songs, projections, readings of related works, etc. Some readers of Dr. King’s writings could also perform a piece of their own that directly connects with their reading. Work by artist Daniel Rarela will be on display, as will full-color photographs of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement.
If you are interested in reading or participating in this event, or if are interested in attending and have questions, please email the CLA Change Team at [email protected]. Deadline for participation signup is Wednesday, March 21. This event is free and open to the public.
This event is sponsored by CLA and the CLA Change Team. It is a vital part of their efforts to promote practices of "inclusivity, equity, and respect" within their collegiate unit, and as part of a larger, campus-wide effort to work toward Campus Climate Goal #2: "Create a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity and social justice."
1. “Remembering MLK's Prophetic 'Mountaintop' Speech.” NPR, NPR, 3 Apr. 2008, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89326670.