Winthrop remembers MLK
Winthrop students held a candlelight vigil Monday night to remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Approximately 100 students gathered to commemorate the vision and life of the civil rights leader.
Winthrop students gather to remember MLK’s legacy.
The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity sponsored the event. Dr. King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest black fraternity. The organization is funding a memorial for Dr. King on the mall in Washington, D.C.
Students gathered to hear prayers, Biblical readings and inspirational speeches.
“I invoke you to stand unmovable like a tree,” said 22-year-old music performance senior Kayla Baker.
Baker sang a spiritual song to invoke Dr. King’s ideas.
“Dr. King helped to rectify the many injustices against people of color in America,” said graduate student and Alpha Phi Alpha member Sylvester Owens. “You too can serve as Dr. King did.”
Owens warned against complacency, saying there is still progress to be made. He spoke of Kenyan girls disappointed for not having AIDS because they get less government money. He said unemployment, glass ceilings, insurance problems, racism and higher interest rates were marginalizing people of color.
“An injustice anywhere lessens justice everywhere,” Owens said. “We must keep the movement alive. Keep moving.”
A flame was passed around candles, which each of the audience members were given. Students formed a semi-circle with lit candles representing unity and love.
“[America’s] situation has gotten better,” said physical education junior and Alpha Phi Alpha vice president Andrew Williams. “There’s more African-Americans going to school and graduating college.”
Williams said Dr. King wouldn’t like complacent African-Americans or the Iraq war. The 20-year-old cited Dr. King’s dislike of the Vietnam War as evidence.
“Through Katrina, we see that not everybody is successful,” said 22-year-old mass communication senior and Alpha Phi Alpha president Emery Glover. “Race relations on campus aren’t the best. I would like to see people have a better understanding of each other.”
Early childhood education senior Brandi Cohen said Dr. King would be pleased with today’s situation but there’s still a lot of progress to be made. Cohen believes race relations at Winthrop could be better.
“A lot of things are sugarcoated,” Cohen said. “There aren’t many events targeted towards minorities and when there is, there isn’t a great turnout. There is a disparity.”
