Michelle Hennessy – News Writer
Southern was joined by Civil Rights activist and contemporary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Bernard LaFayette Jr, Ph.D., to remember and celebrate the life of the man who gave his life to fighting for equality, according to coordinator of the Multicultural Center, Dian Brown-Albert.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate the birth and life and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Brown-Albert. “It’s a time to remember his fight for freedom for all races and all people. It’s a time to reflect on the past.”
LaFayette was a co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a leader in the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins, a Freedom Rider, an associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the national coordinator of the Poor People’s Campaign, according to his memoir In Peace And Freedom: My Journey In Selma.
As well as speaking at the event, LaFayette held a book signing and sang with the Unity Boy’s Choir to remember King. The Aziza Dance Company also performed along with the SCSU Talent Show winners, Jamaal Sancho and Rachel Polansky, who performed the Negro National Anthem.
Throughout his speech, LaFayette told stories of how he had worked with King and the different non-violent campaigns King had coordinated to end the oppression of African Americans.
“We have come into the world not through our own choice – we are all old enough here to know how we came to be here – we showed up and all entered the same way. We got here, we made it,” said LaFayette. “We do not know how long we will be here. People like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left us quickly but they left us something valuable; an example of how we can use our lives.”
LaFayette said he would like to see an end of violence around the world, and to instead use a non-violent philosophy to end wars and conflict.
“Our presence is felt, we have the military stationed all over the world,” said LaFayette. “What we have to do is replace this with a new philosophy of nonviolence. We do not have to see people come back all bombed. There is a better way. This is a jewel that we have that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Mandela made for us. Let’s take that philosophy and use it in such a way that we will be able to realize Martin Luther King’s last dream.”
The ballroom was filled for the inspiring event, with SCSU students as well as the wider community all attending to hear from one of King’s contemporaries.
“We usually have our NAACP e-board meetings today,” said psychology senior Jasmine Brown, “but we cancelled that so we could come here. We want to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life because he paved the way for us to sit in the same seats as Caucasians and other races and ethnicities. So it’s very important for us to pay tribute and show that we care.”
Nursing student Monique Mason said she was also encouraged by the event to continue the fight for equality.
“The message I got was that we should all unite and come as one,” said Mason. “Don’t look at the color of people’s skin, look at us coming together and doing things together to stop discrimination and stop violence.”
LaFayette said Dr. King had told him to go to Washington and he would meet him there. But on April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in his hotel room. But this didn’t stop him.
“King said he was on his way,” said LaFayette. “I didn’t realize it but he was, in the form of a memorial and in the form of a National Holiday for his birthday. He made it.”
LaFayette said despite less than 13 years of leadership of the Civil Rights Movement, his presence is still felt today.
“The reason they shot him is because they wanted to stop his philosophy of love. They did not want to see that, but look at the changes that happened,” said LaFayette. “They shot Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. But it was a hit and miss, and it continues to be a miss to this day.”
