“A Dream Deferred, A Dream Made Reality? Marking the 50th Anniversary of the ‘I Have a Dream Speech’” was the topic of the Winter Quarter 2013 Week Two (Jan. 18) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. Several speakers considered Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy in their own lives at K.
Associate Dean of Students Karen Joshua-Wathel spoke about the popular characterizations of Malcolm X and King. She promoted the Black History 101 Mobile Museum visiting the Weimer K. Hicks Student Center, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation featuring a speech by K alumnus Harvey Hollins, III ’87. <span”>Natalie Cherne ’15 spoke about the gratitude she feels to King. “I had the opportunity to apply to colleges [and] to choose K…because of what Martin Luther King, Jr. did, and that’s amazing,” she said. Chaplain Liz Candido ’00 read a short sermon she wrote about working with a church in south Boston where she witnessed racism while mentoring Dominican teens. She said our collective dreams depend on community and challenging racist aggression. “I suppose we need each other so we can dream new dreams—ones we have yet to imagine.”
Craig Isser ’13 spoke about his education and white privilege at K. “I must keep the white guilt, but also make something good out of it,” he said. Marlene Crandell Francis Assistant Professor of English Babli Sinha then spoke about King’s less widely-known message about ending the pattern of American consumerism, and its relation to peace. Gabrielle Clay ’13 addressed her remarks directly to King, discussing the work remaining to accomplish his dream. “Talking about race and racism has remained an obnoxious pink elephant in the room,” she said. Marjorie Toshach ’13 spoke about joining K’s Black Student Organization as a white woman, and learning to confront her majority status for the first time. Joshua-Wathel retook the stage to offer closing remarks before Candido led the audience in a closing prayer.
Friday Chapel programs are called Community Reflections and offer a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression each Friday at 10:50 AM. Refreshments at 10:30. The entire campus community and general public are invited. Theme of Week Three (Jan. 25) Community Reflection is a “Cold Weather Catharsis” which will serve as a forum for ideas on how to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, spice up your life, stay active, and release the pent-up energy of Winter with the Adventure House and friends!
Photo: (l to r) top row, Babli Sinha, Elizabeth Candido ’00; middle row, Marjorie Toshach ’13, Craig Isser ’13; bottom row, Gabrielle Clay ’13, Natalie Cherne ’15.
Story and photo by Elaine Ezekiel ’13