The University held its annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last night, sponsored by the Office of African-American Affairs, the University Programs Council, Student Council and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
The commemoration included speeches by Greg Jackson, a fourth-year Alpha, and History Prof. Claudrena Harold.
Harold's speech, titled "The Importance of Dr. King's Legacy Today," discussed the significance of engaging King's works and implementing them in the modern world.
"Everyone is familiar with his voice and image, but not his ideas. I think it's important for students to really read his works," Harold said.
Harold spoke about the continuing presence of the injustices King fought against 40 years ago. She also discussed King's devotion to telling the truth about these social issues.
"In a country that is very uncomfortable about talking about class and economic injustice, it is hard to engage King," Harold said.
She also addressed other problems King spoke out against including poverty and the Vietnam War. She noted that King's decision to focus on issues other than racial inequality alienated him from some of his supporters.
The complexities of King's life were also present through an exhibition of photographs of King taken by Benedict Fernandez.
The photos, provided by OAAA Asst. Dean Dion Lewis, show both public and private moments from the last year of King's life.
King is not only shown giving speeches, but also working with union workers, speaking out against the Vietnam War and playing catch with his kids. The exhibit ends with images of King's family at his funeral.
According to Lewis, the photographs "allow students to see this great man being a normal guy."
"We have these heroes that we lift up but we need to remember that they are normal people too," he said.
The idea of viewing King as not only a leader, but as a man, was addressed repeatedly throughout the program.
"I think it's important to humanize King because it gives us the ability to imagine ourselves in his shoes," Harold said. "It enables us to see King the man, not just King the symbol. When you humanize, you really force yourself to analyze your own contribution to humanity."
The exhibit will be in the Newcomb Hall Art Gallery until Feb. 2 so that students can view Fernandez's photographs of a man for whom, according to Harold, "life was more than merely surviving and existing."
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