Longwood University celebrated America's national holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this week through various educational events and presentations to further knowledge of Dr. King and the growth of Longwood University as an institution of diversity and citizen leadership.
On Jan. 18 at 12 p.m. on the Lankford Student Union steps, students, faculty and staff of Longwood read excerpts of Dr. King's speech, ‘Remaining Awake Through the Great Revolution,' originally read by him on March 31, 1968 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
DeVon Johnson performed two songs, including the National Anthem. Two speakers featured for the event were Roberta Collier, a senior, and Assistant Professor of Physical and Health Education Dr. Matt Lucas.
After the event, a pictorial display was exhibited on Brock Commons "for viewing and reflection," as stated in the event email. The display included photographs from the Civil Rights, Women's and Disability Movement.
Director for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Jamie Riley commented on the success of the event, saying, "We really wanted to provide an opportunity to hear a speech from Dr. King that really moved beyond what they usually hear, that he was really focused on equality and social justice for all, which included poverty, racial differences, gender differences, all the various differences that we have currently."
Longwood welcomed Ms. Cookie Scott at the MLK Symposium the following day on Jan. 19 at 3:30 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium. She discussed her experiences growing up during the Civil Rights Movement as well as her experience as the first ever African-American graduate of Longwood University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
Brigadier General President Patrick Finnegan opened the event, saying, "One of my favorite Dr. King quotes goes to the heart of this idea. He said, ‘Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'' Longwood students, staff and faculty have a long tradition of answering that question to their actions, including participation in many local and regional service projects."
President Finnegan noted that 70 students and eight staff and faculty members participated in the MLK Challenge that was sponsored by the Leadership and Civic Engagement Office by assisting six public service projects in the Farmville area.
Entering Longwood when she did, Ms. Scott said, "Dr. King was born January 15, 1929, and was assassinated April 4, 1968, the same year that I entered Longwood. I remember an overwhelming sense of sadness, but also a personal loss. This was a celebrity for me that felt like a part of my family …"
Ms. Scott discussed her experiences growing up in America during a time when segregation was still deemed necessary. "I lived some of that history. I was and I am the recipient of changes in our laws and our practices as a result of the suffering, the beatings and the killings of people like Dr. King and other civil rights opponents."
"You young people are our hope," stated Ms. Scott. "You may not have experienced some of the things that I have. I didn't experience some of the violence that my mother and other black Americans [experienced] … but never doubt [that] racism and injustice still exist today, but they are more subtle. I wish they were blatant because I think it's harder to fight something that you're not quite sure of … "
Ms. Scott described her education at Longwood as "one of the things that I value greatest." She further stated, "You won't hear me talk this afternoon about how my education was lacking because I want you to know that it was not, either in the black schools, or the integrated schools and especially here at Longwood. I did not experience a lack in my education, and that's very important."
She said, "As an adult, it's easy for me to look back and see the teachers who were invested in my success and the success of their students irrespective of color … I had advocates. I had champions, even, in both the black and the white schools who were on my side. Those were persons who made the difference in my education and in my life."
Having invited Ms. Scott to present to Longwood, Dr. Riley commented on her accomplishments, including having been the youngest court service unit director in Virginia at the age of 28, saying, "She's such a success and an example of what a true Longwood alumnus is."
Brandon Fry, Longwood student body president, closed the event, saying, "As Lancers, I believe that we should ask ourselves this question [‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'] daily for it is us who will be part of the future, and we must influence the future generation to think of others before ourselves."
He continued, "This is exactly what Dr. King dreamed of. He dreamed of a better future, one that would not benefit himself, but his children and his children's children … I want us to remember that Dr. King did not just influence civil rights in America, but he contributed to a world civil rights movement."
Fry finished, saying, "Lancers, we all embrace the concept of citizen leadership, and we all can influence change in our communities. I charge you that as we all leave Longwood that we realize that we have the potential to make this world a better place and for those to come after.
