BY ANDRE GIBSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
St. Bonaventure University hosted a celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday featuring guest speakers from local members of the community, poetry and music from the combined SBU Choirs. The event highlighted the triumphs and the obstacles in the nation’s history and showed the audience a vision of progress.
Dr. Joseph Zimmer, acting president of St. Bonaventure University, gave his reflection on the gathering after an opening performance by the combined SBU Choirs.
“Dr. King was a man who lived a life of purpose,” said Zimmer. “Dr King’s consistent themes of love and peaceful protest are lessons of all people to the incredible potential we all have.”
King spent his time growing up in the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. His father served as a pastor and his mother served as a musical director at the church. His relationships with his friends at Sunday school would help form his devotion to others.
Tenaya Ramadhan, who spoke at the event, read a poem titled “Family Tree,” written by Tupac Shakur. The poem reads: “Because we all spring from different trees does not mean that we are not created equally.”
Marisol Woods, the black student union president at St Bonaventure University, followed up with a reflection about her identity and her experiences at the university.
“My identity is well intertwined; Being black and Baptist, this is the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. and what he represented,” said Woods. “Dr. King represented all people to bring peace, unity, and justice for all.”
Woods continued her poem with a powerful spirit that reflected on the recent events that occurred in the community and the reality of the world that we live in.
Last semester, people posted racially insensitive comments directly targeted at Higher Education and Opportunity Program students on the social app Yik Yak.
“Be proud to be a black person. Feel pride in your intellect, your style, your hair, your speech, your company. This will all be questioned with arrogance. Feel pride in who you are. Your success will be a success to all,” Woods said.
True Colors, written by Billy Steinberg and released on Cyndi Lauper’s second album, was performed by Tenaya Ramadhan.
Martin Luther King Jr’s “Love Your Enemies” sermon was included, continuing the theme of community expressed before.
“You have heard that it was said ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is In Heaven,” said King.
Following the delivery from King, SBU Choirs performed “Stand Up” featuring Malaunah Jones. The voices of the choir rang through the Rigas Theater and continued into the evening.
Dr. Zimmer then introduced the night’s featured speaker, Rev. Gerald Slack. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Slack serves as a pastor and superintendent of Olean’s Sacred Temple Church of God in Christ. He discussed his experiences growing up as a black man in the South during an era of segregation and discrimination.
Slack told his story through pictures. From the building that both Dr. King and Rev. Slack lived in, to accomplishments that sparked promise in the black community, his message was clear.
“You can’t judge a man by the color of his skin; the cover of someone’s book. He was trying to reach that message to the world,” Slack said.
Slack spoke about the importance of sticking to the truth in love.
“If someone loves you, they’ll stick to the truth. Love always. Put others before yourself. Show kindness. Be nice to everyone. Say please and thanks. Count your blessings. Wait your turn. Have patience. Be courteous. Listen! Live your life full of love,” said Slack.
Growing up in New Orleans during the 1950s and 1960s, life was not easy for Slack.
“It was tough living in the city of New Orleans. If you rode your bike around town, you wouldn’t feel safe as you’d have to look back while kids were throwing beer bottles at your bike–I wasn’t allowed to go into certain stores as a child–my brother was looking for a job and was halted with ‘white only establishments.’ We couldn’t run outside after dark in the neighborhood we lived in. You couldn’t stand next to them on the bus, you had to back up. You couldn’t get into hotels. Dr. King was trying to make change for all of us,” said Slack.
Slack concluded his presentation by sending a message to the crowd on life.
“When someone is hurt, you love them. When something is broke, you fix it. When someone is loved, you tell them,” said Slack. “Children learn what they live. If a child lives with criticism, they condemn. If a child lives with hostility, they fight…If a child lives with fairness, they live with justice. If a child lives with friendship and happiness, they find love.”
Gibsona21@bonaventure.edu
