By Brad Atzinger
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was explored at the University of Louisville last Friday night, with a discussion led by Jefferson District Judge Joan “Toni” Stringer on the state of Civil Rights in the 21st century. The discussion was apart of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service, sponsored by Multicultural Academic Enrichment Programs, held in the Bingham Humanities Building on Jan. 12.
The service also featured a performance by duPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School Chamber Choir, as well as presentations from U of L’s African American Theatre Program.
“Although tremendous strides have been made, the march still goes on,” said Stringer, who was re-elected to the Jefferson County court last November,”when it comes to civil rights, has [King’s] dream been fulfilled?”
In her presentation, Stringer described the civil rights movement as a band in which all should participate, regardless of ability.
“We are not all completely equal yet,” Stringer said, “because in the march for civil rights, one band will be marching for them [civil rights], and there will be a band marching against them.”
Stringer said she felt that King would be pleased with many of the strides taken in the fight for civil rights, but that he would be dismayed by the apathy that exists among today’s youth.
“At times we tend to let apathy replace energy in the march for civil rights.”
The event ended with an awards ceremony that recognized university students involved in MAEP. The service drew to a crowd of about one hundred people.
“I think the turnout at this event shows a real generation gap,” said Dr. Dale Billingsley, an English professor at U of L. “The impact Martin Luther King had on us is something that calls people to have an annual recollection.”
Billingsley said he felt that people can miss the point of the holiday. And while naming landmarks is a reminder to his legacy, it is not enough.
“To have [King’s] name facing us everyday serves as a reminder, but we have to ask ourselves if building monuments is enough, and the answer is ‘no’: we have to act,” Billingsley said.
Stringer agreed, urging the audience to “remember [MLK day] is not a day off. It’s a day to get out and march.”
Stringer also discussed specific issues in modern civil rights, referring to recent Jefferson County Public School and University of Michigan affirmative action lawsuits which have reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
“In this 21st century,” Stringer said, “civil rights are undoubtedly under siege. The ‘dream busters’ are alive and well in America and some of them in political office.”
Stringer said the legacy of King, should be preserved by those who reap the benefits of his work.
“It is incumbent upon those who benefited from the civil rights movement to make sure that future generations do not forget the sacrifices made so that they do not have to live a life of exclusion.”
