As snow continues to fall gently on the bricks, Jan. 20 celebrates the life, legacy and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although a day free of classes for Ohio University, there is so much love and appreciation for King in Athens.
Organizations such as the offices of Diversity and Inclusion and Community Engagement as well as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity all collaborate for MLK Day, presenting students with annual traditions and celebrations, such as a march, a brunch and a community fair.
Alpha Phi Alpha is the oldest of the Divine Nine Greek life organizations, the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. Alpha Phi worked together with OU’s Diversity and Inclusion department for a silent march Monday morning followed by a celebratory brunch.
Darnell McMullen, a senior studying contemporary music and digital instruments, is Alpha Phi Alpha’s president. He discussed how this tradition came to be.
“The first silent march we held was the year after he passed away 1968, so we held the first march in 1969 and that became a tradition every year,” McMullen said.
The brunch quickly became a part of the celebration once MLK Day became a national holiday in 2000. Although MLK Day was an official federal holiday in 1983, McMullen noted that it wasn’t until 2000 that all 50 states officially recognized it. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of January, which is near King’s birthday, Jan. 15.
According to McMullen, a new theme emerges each year for the event. This year the theme is Marching Forward: Using Dr. King’s Teachings to Heal a Divided Nation. Regardless of each year's different theme, the event always honors King’s mark on the world as a civil rights leader. Tickets were $10 for students and $30 for non-students.
“I feel like the purpose of this event is to humanize Dr. King, talk about the things that don’t normally get talked about,” McMullen said.
This year Terrence Frazier, assistant vice president for student affairs and services for Michigan State University, was the keynote speaker. An OU alumnus, Frazier was president of Student Senate, president of the Black Student Union and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha during his time in Athens.
Russell Morrow, interim vice president of diversity and inclusion, discussed their involvement over the years in the production of MLK Day.
“We support the planning of the work of the event,” Morrow said. “We have put together a committee of campus partners and student representatives who get together on a regular basis to help plan and coordinate the event.”
Morrow discussed the importance of these events, saying these have been consistent productions of celebration that routinely bring people together.
“I think our celebration bridges racial communities and racial diversity and gender diversity and economic diversity,” Morrow stated. “Everyone, regardless of who you are, they can feel connected to the legacy of Dr. King.”
The Center for Community Engagement is hosting an MLK week community service fair, held in Baker Center. This will be the third spring fair, providing students with a free opportunity to connect with 16-20 nonprofit organizations, local organizations and a few service-oriented student organizations offering students internships and volunteer opportunities.
Courtney Lefebvre, the associate director for the Center for Community Engagement, spoke about this opportunity for students.
“We want to connect students to opportunities to engage off campus in meaningful ways that both allow them to find what they’re learning in the classroom in a community contact that has real meaningful impacts,” Lefebvre said.
MLK Day opens the gateway for students to honor King on campus, with celebrations to discuss his impact on the civil rights movement, as well as what his dream means for students and people in the world today.
“I think it’s really special, and it always warms my heart that I get to just be surrounded by brotherhood,” McMullen said. “Not only that but there are so many people who come from all over to support Dr. King.”
