The ideas of perpetuating the dream, forgiveness and love were woven though the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast gathering between Tougaloo and Millsaps Colleges on Monday.
The two colleges share a historic past of social progressiveness that bound them together during the Civil Rights Movement. In the early 60s, Tougaloo courageously opened its doors to civil rights workers, and Millsaps became the first all-white college to voluntarily support and call for integration.
Each year, both colleges continue the tradition of bringing students, staff, faculty, alumni and the community together to celebrate the life of Dr. King.
“As you can see, our shared history is what we remember, what we build upon, and what unites us as a community,” said Christie Kokel, president of the Millsaps Student Body Association. “These are the foundations for our special relationship and our special tradition, and we are happy to share in this yearly event.”
This year’s breakfast, hosted January 21 on the campus of Tougaloo, featured uplifting music, an Indian dance by Millsaps students, and motivational addresses from top religious and educational leaders in the state. The event kicked off this year’s theme entitled, Perpetuating the Dream: Creating Effective Leadership for the 21st Century.
Dr. Embra K. Jackson, United Methodist Church-Mississippi Annual Conference and a Tougaloo graduate, told how the words of Dr. King helped him to overcome a racially unjust past to get him to where he is today – a child of love.
“In studying the political races taking place and particularly seeing a candidate such as Barack Obama as a front leader in the Democratic race, I am convinced that America is looking at the content of character rather than the color of one’s skin. We’ve come so far, yet we still have a long way to go,” Jackson said.
“Part of our responsibility is to give back. If we want to keep the dream of Dr. King, the greatest gift of all is to be a servant. If we truly want to become leaders and lift up the dream of Dr. King, join hands with your brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, and make a difference in this world,” he said.
During the program, several Millsaps students recited one of Dr. King’s papers, “The Purpose of an Education,” written when he was a student at Morehouse College for the school’s newspaper.
Kenosha Robinson, a junior, read the moving conclusion: “If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, brethren! Be careful, teachers! It is not enough to know truth, but we must love truth and sacrifice for it.”
Other Millsaps student representatives that took part in the program included Isreal Scott, senior; Brandi Buckler, sophomore; Alonia Carey, senior; Hayley Barber, junior; Vanessa Johnson, junior; Bjorn Carlsson, senior; Stephen Passman, freshman; Cree Cantrell, sophomore; and Brittany Hickman, junior.
Millsaps President Frances Lucas and Tougaloo President Beverly Hogan gave closing remarks.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. than with this event that we’ve held here today. Among these young people, there will be a peace that will carry us through. This is the kind of gathering that Dr. King dreamed about – people coming together from diverse backgrounds,” Hogan said.
“Our mission at Millsaps is to bring about courageous and compassionate global citizens. This is not an easy task. But if we focus on two key points – continuing to forgive and loving each other – we will see change for our future,” Lucas said.
Other activities for the week include a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration & Candlelight Vigil on Monday evening at 7 p.m. at Tougaloo and a panel discussion at Millsaps College’s Academic Complex Recital Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23.
