The College celebrated the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend with a variety of programs that included panels, multimedia presentations and a candlelight vigil. This year's celebration, "Lift Every Voice: Freedom's Artists and the Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights," focuses on the power of the arts to invoke change.
A community faith celebration honoring the life and work of King in Rollins Chapel on Sunday. The celebration featured an address by Rev. Canon Henry L. Atkins Jr., who was active in the civil rights movements of the 1960s, is the Priest-in-Charge at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover. The address was part of an effort to include leaders from the communities of the Upper Valley.
"One of the things that Dartmouth and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity is trying to make an effort to do better is look to the communities around us for the real experts, the people who are really walking the talk," said Giavanna Munaf, associate director in the Office of Institutional Diversity. "We want to encourage people to be more involved in the communities in New Hampshire and Vermont."
Celebrations continued with a community lunch on "art and social change" held in Collis Commonground on Monday. A roundtable discussion focused on the ways in which art and activism interconnect. The discussion featured poet and Montgomery Fellow Lucille Clifton, Hopkins Center Director Jeffrey James, artist Liz Canner and performance poet Jerry Quickley.
"We wanted a theme that would allow us to create a program that is about honoring our achievements and also about recognizing how far we have to go," said Munaf. "This year we wanted celebration, inspiration, courage and strength to be up front. The focus is on how the arts can inspire and change and at the same time raise important questions."
The holiday concluded with a candlelit vigil followed by an address from keynote speaker Harry Belafonte. The vigil, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, began at Cutter-Shabazz hall, culminating at the Hopkins Center with a multimedia presentation that paid homage to King's life and contributions.
"I think it is so important to recognize the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther Jr., especially today, because it is so important to stand up, not only as an individual, but for your community and what you believe in," said Alpha Pi Omega sorority president Renee Smith '08 in an open discussion following the vigil.
Events in honor of the holiday continue through the end of January.
