In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, nearly 500 people gathered to hear song and spoken word at Boston University’s Metcalf Hall. “Ode to the Common People: A Celebration of the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” brought together nationally renowned African-American poet Sonia Sanchez and College of Fine Arts School of Music professor Simon Estes, along with CFA students and faculty, to pay tribute to BU’s most celebrated alumnus yesterday afternoon. “Music is truly an international language of the world which helps us cross political and social barriers,” Estes, an opera singer, said during the event. Estes sang “Precious Lord,” the same song he performed on the day of King’s assassination. It was the first time since the event’s inception that CFA students and faculty were included, Estes said. The day featured several student performances in diverse genres, including opera, blues and gospel. Quotations from King’s speeches were interspersed throughout the afternoon. Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore, who quoted King’s Berlin Jazz Festival speech, said jazz specifically spoke to the fight for racial equality. “The power of the freedom movement in us comes from music,” Elmore said, quoting King. CFA musicology professor Jeremy Yudkin, who spoke about jazz and race, said more jazz has stood as the most promising locus for African American achievement. “Jazz brings blacks and whites together,” Yudkin said. Sanchez addressed the crowd on what she said it means to be human and the need to come together as a society to speak out against not just racial inequalities, but other societal problems. “There needs to be a true revolution of values,” Sanchez said. “Our nation is approaching a spiritual death.” Although the Civil Rights Movement ended four decades ago, Estes said society still has problems to address. “Race relations have improved, but with great sadness, we still have a long way to go,” Estes said after the event. He said he was optimistic that students still care about issues such as racial equality because education promotes change. “We have a long way to go, but the fact that there are events like this show that we’ve gotten somewhere,” said College of Communication senior Erica Mosca.