Profiles
Martin Luther King, Jr Commemoration
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Change" seemed to be the most used word in 2008. Its use in the presidential campaign alone drove it to the point of cliché . But, as with cliché s, it has its foundation in fundamental truths and 2008 was a year of profound change. The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President seemed to signify a great transformation in American politics and culture and racial norms, and is acknowledged as the evolution of the work done by the many in the civil rights movement. In that spirit the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Duke University is themed, "What Becomes of the Dream? Faith and Politics. Vision and Leadership."
2009 marks the 20th official Duke commemoration of the life, death, and legacy of Dr. King, and Duke's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee heads into its second decade with a strong tradition of remembrances. Recent speakers have included Andrew Young, Harry Belafonte and Marian Wright Edelman, while 2009 features Rev. Joseph Lowery and Soledad O'Brien.
Historically the commemoration was lead by the Divinity School, but the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), shortly after its creation, was charged with forming the events. Currently the committee is co-chaired by Benjamin Reese of OIE and William Turner of Divinity and comprised of approximately 25 undergraduate and graduate students, and employees from the University and Health System. The committee's work begins each May; choosing a theme, selecting speakers, and planning the events that routinely last more than a week.
2009 posed an interesting challenge, as the inauguration of President Obama is the day after the national MLK Day holiday - traditionally the date of the keynote speech. Many Duke participants were to be in Washington D.C., including Rev. Lowery who will give the benediction. So the commemoration events begin on January 13th with the Community Caregiver Award at Duke Hospital, continue through the 18th with Rev. Lowery and the 22nd with Ms. O'Brien and finishing up on the 23rd with the Musical Extravaganza - Up Above My Head. (please see the full calendar of events)
Events are for Duke and the region, and recent audiences, largely comprised of employees and local residents, often fill the Duke Chapel to capacity. The national holiday was not expected to be a day off so much as a "day on", with events and speakers through out the day. Responding, in part, to workshops modeled on the Freedom School curriculum of the 60's, students were extremely active in past years, but their participation has recently been less visible. In 2009, though, two events are meant to gain their attention.
The "me too monologues" are true experiences of members of the Duke community, performed by Duke students, which address issues of race, culture, and ethnicity. Stories range from being racially profiled at an airport, dealing with interracial dating, or feeling like someone's token white friend.
The MLK Million Meals Service Event is an opportunity to help end hunger by packing meals that will be sent to hungry children in over 50 developing countries. Faculty, student athletes, community members and students from Duke and NC Central gathered in 2008 to assemble over 150,000 meals.
The serendipitous nature of the inauguration and the annual King celebrations only adds to the excitement of the promise of change, of which Dr. King might have dreamed. Duke is proud to honor his past while embracing the continued legacy.