Majority of schools usual have a day-off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Christopher Newport University does not take a day-off, for educational reasons; however, today, they have decided to hold an event today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
First, the university decided to “pause” classes from 3pm – 6pm. No class was to be taken place between those times, so some classes were canceled. Next, on the Great Lawn, on the steps of CNU Hall, university president, Paul Trible gave a speech about the significant of today and how we must value MLK’s teaching and ideals. After his welcome, the Agape Student Gospel Choir performed and than a moment of silence.
Once that was done, everyone marched to the Diamonstein Concert Hall for the rest of the event. Inside, they’d played MLK’s “I have a Dream.” speech and had the Christopher Newport University Chamber Choir perform. This is where the real bulk of the event comes in.
After all that, Ahmed Elzamzami, the student oratorical contest winner, delivered his remarks on Dr.King’s speech and it well written with the audience giving it a standing ovation. The speech talked about how we must overcome three challenges to enter a new age of equality. Next up was a discussion about MLK with a panel of CNU community members, alumni, and guest. They were: Cynthia Allen-Whyte, CNU Alumni and serves on the board of Women in Shipbuilding Enterprise, Dr. Laura Puaca, CNU professor in the history department, Dr. Jeffery Smith, superintendent of Hampton City Schools, Steve Kast, president and CEO of the United Way of Virginia Pennisula, CNU Alumni, and member of the CNU Board of Visitors, and Nicholas McCormick, Bonner scholar from Annapolis, Maryland.
The panelists discussed how it is possible to face the challenges of a new age. The conversation was in the line about equality.Some suggested that it is in the education, how if we don’t help those who can’t educate themselves, they cannot be equal. Some say to do kindness onto others, help those in need, and listen to their struggles. Overall, a very good and thoughtful conversation with personal experience.
Lastly, the Gabe Morgan, the Sheriff of Newport New gave closing remarks, before having a few questions from the audience. There were only three questions, but they asked about personal experience, where to being, and the last question escapes me for the moment, but thoughtful questions with equal answers of doing one act of kindness to another and just talking to someone different.
The overall event was a good start for CNU to honor MLK Jr. It wasn’t big or festive, but it had character and allow some of us with food for thought about the man himself. Personally, being Asian American, I personally don’t see racism against me as others do. Maybe because Asians usually stay away from this sort of thing, and solely focus on what they did to survive. We don’t usually run into this sort of racism or any sort of thing. This may sound like a sheltered reflection, but it is true. When I usually see racism acts, it is usually against African Americans and Middle Eastern. East and Southeast Asian usually are not targets of racism from what I seen.
A big thing I have taken away is we have to work hard to achieve equality for everyone. To give those in poverty a hand. Finally to achieve a dream left spoken by King.
FX II 