January 24, 2019
Vincennes University celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr.
LINK to photo of keynote speaker Frank Leon Roberts, click
HERE
VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University honored the life and
accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at its annual banquet at
Green Activities Center on Tuesday.
An estimated 150 people attended the event hosted by VU’s
Department of Multicultural Affairs. The majority of guests wore all
black at the suggestion of Cortney Cross, director of Multicultural Affairs.
Activist and NYU faculty member Frank Leon Roberts gave the
keynote speech. He is recognized for creating and teaching the first
Black Lives Matter college course in the United States. The focus of
his speech was the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Black Lives Matters is a human rights movement,” Roberts said.
Prior to Roberts taking the stage, VU journalism major and
Indianapolis native DeeShawnte Jefferson performed a spoken word piece
written by her titled “I Have a Dream”.
“The most memorable moment for me was hearing (Student African
American Sisterhood) President DeeShawnte Jefferson share her spoken
word piece, a rendition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”
speech,” Cross said. “To hear her words and to think about the power,
intentionality, courage, and the bravery that it takes to love rather
than hate is truly revolutionary and transformational.
“I really hope that people, whether they were comfortable or
uncomfortable with the message, take time to reflect about why they
feel as they do, but to also be empowered to move forward in love not
hate, breaking the silence surrounding the injustice of marginalized
people groups in this country and across the world.”
In addition to Jefferson’s reading, the evening featured
musical performances by the Ron Jones Quartet and Dr. Kandace Hinton,
a professor at Indiana State University.
“I am overwhelmed by the amount of support I received from
Vincennes University faculty, staff, students, and community members
at the MLK banquet,” Cross said. “It felt good to look out into the
crowd and see the work put in was all worth it.”
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LINK to VU Online Newsroom, click HERE
MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports
Information Director
812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell,
VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VICKIE PUFFER,
Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu,
vpuffer@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University
Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom