Campus celebrates King’s dream
Mary Butkus
Students, faculty and community members filled Graham Chapel on January 21 for the 15th annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The evening’s discussion centered on Americans’ success in “Realizing the Dream.”
Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Washington University students joined keynote speaker and artistic associate of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company Linda Kennedy in celebrating King and struggling to understand and implement his ideas.
“That’s what the dream is about: giving equity to equality. The dream is about giving equity to diversity,” Kennedy said. “That’s what the dream was about the whole time: knowing the power of justice for all.”
Student speakers agreed that Americans have fallen short of achieving King’s ideal for equality, but they also expressed hope for the future.
Senior Andwele Jolly cited the angry backlash some Muslims suffered from vengeful Americans after Sept. 11; however, Jolly said that she hopes Americans can change their mindsets to become more accepting.
“Maybe we, you and I, can help eradicate the fears that divide us,” Jolly said.
Contact Rachel at rachel.streitfeld@studlife.com
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