Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of peace, equality and unity filled Northeastern University’s Curry Student Center on the holiday commemorating his birthday, with nearly 800 joining to celebrate the slain leader’s life and lessons yesterday.
The celebration, run by the National Conference for Community and Justice, a civil rights organization, was designed to encourage participants to take a stand and make a difference on current social issues. This intention was reflected in its theme, ‘Change Our World Be a Drum Major for Peace and Justice,’ derived from King’s speech, ‘The Drum Major Instinct.’
The event was a result of the NCCJ’s partnership with Northeastern University’s Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity, and its Center for Study of Sport in Society, which have similar values, such as encouraging diversity and equality, according to Kristen Sarkarati, NCCJ’s development consultant.
‘We hope that people will walk away with some kind of an action [in their mind] so they can promote inclusion in their community,’ Sarkarati said.
Morning activities included arts and crafts for children, the construction of a mural of King and teen social issues dialogues. Groups representing different cultures gave song and dance performances during the afternoon, and community leaders spoke about the continuing importance of King’s messages.
Students from New Jewish High School in Waltham spent the day at Northeastern celebrating King’s legacy. Many of the students, including Elaine Denenberg, a junior at NJHS, said they were happy to recognize the holiday.
‘It’s better to celebrate Martin Luther King Day to do something he would want us to do rather than sit at home,’ she said.
Jonny Leeman, a senior at the school, agreed, saying he thought the event could teach people about the holiday.
‘It’s good to have people understand the meaning of the day, rather than have the day off,’ he said.
Crystal Morgan, a junior at English High School in Jamaica Plain, attended with her school’s civil rights team.
‘It’s one of the most diverse schools in Boston public schools,’ Morgan said of English. ‘The civil rights group makes sure students feel comfortable in that sort of diverse environment.’
Morgan and the other team members said they planned to put the day’s lessons to good use.
‘We can take what we learn today and teach it to others,’ she said.
10 students from South Hamilton’s Pingree High School’s multicultural group were also at the event.
Lucy Hamilton, Pingree’s associate dean of students and Spanish teacher, said the group sometimes gets discouraged attempting to promote itself around the school.
‘One of the things I hope they get out of [the event] is to see that they aren’t alone [in promoting diversity],’ Hamilton said.
Hamilton also brought her two-year-old biracial son, T.J., to the event.
‘It’s very important to me that he sees all races and understands that we live in a biracial society,’ she said, ‘and he’s a representative of that.’
After reading an article about King’s opposition to the Vietnam War, a group of students from Norwell High School in Waltham argued over the current situation in Iraq and the oppression of women in some parts of the world. According to Sarkarati, relating modern-day events to King’s struggles was one of the purposes of the day’s events.
Citing current issues such as affirmative action cases at University of Michigan and war and poverty, Donnie Perkens, dean of NU’s Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity, said King’s dream has not yet been fulfilled, and the current generation must continue his struggle.
‘Here we are today, revisiting and still struggling with the things Dr. King faced,’ he said.
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner stressed the importance of young people learning about King and putting his beliefs into action.
‘When you see a problem, you not only have to speak on it, you have to stand up and act on it,’ he said. ‘It’s up to each and every one of us to make the changes that need to be made.’