By Chad Silber
It has been 36 years since the untimely death of one of America’s most visionary social activists. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. garnered mass support for a vision that has not been tarnished in the decades following his death.
On Jan. 14, the Multicultural Academic Enrichment Program will be sponsoring a commemorative service for King. The service has been held on campus for more than 20 years.
The University of Louisville’s Black Diamond Choir will perform several selections at the event, providing the backdrop for this emotional ceremony.
There will also be poetry readings and awards presented to students, staff, faculty and community leaders who have supported the MAEP office in the past year.
The Rev. Phillip Hodge will be the keynote speaker. Hodge is a U of L alumnus, a past employee of the former Office of Black Affairs, and is in his tenth year as reverend at the Fifth Street Baptist Church.
He was a speaker at the ceremony several years ago and has been asked again this year to share his reflections on the message of the late King.
“I want to revisit the Dream,” Hodge said. “There seems to be so much relativism today, whereas Dr. King spoke of absolutes.”
Hodge speaks in the manner of a learned professional, and when he broaches the topic of King’s message, emotion drips from every syllable.
The passion that was so prevalent in King’s speeches is re-conjured in a five-minute phone conversation with Hodge.
“I’ve been looking into how much of the dream I think we’ve achieved,” he said, “from the obvious instances, such as discrimination in hotels and restaurants, to the subtleties in everyday life.”
The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in room 100 of the Bingham Humanities Building.
Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend.
