The lone sound disrupting a silent College Green yesterday morning was the echoes of footsteps hitting brick walkways during a 15-minute procession honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For the 10th consecutive year, Ohio University students used the march to honor the birthday of King, an influential black leader in the Civil Rights Movement who was assassinated in 1968.
Walking arm-in-arm with fellow students, Victoria Little, a sophomore studying theater performance, carried a sign that read, He had a dream
now we can too.
It stopped the cars at green lights Little said, adding the march was an effective tribute.
Ohio University's chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically black fraternity of which King was a member, sponsored both the march from Galbreath Chapel to Baker University Center, as well as a celebratory brunch featuring multiple speakers and performances.
The parade and brunch concluded a five-day celebration of the holiday.
Other events included the The Power of Poverty in Southeastern Ohio panel Thursday, a film screening Friday, a day of volunteering Saturday and various performances by choirs and other groups Sunday.
Yesterday's event was coordinated by the recently-formed Martin Luther King Celebration Committee and was themed Revitalize Rejuvenate
Recommit: Answering the Call to Do for Others.
Over 400 tickets were sold
said Harvey Smith, president of OU's Alpha Phi Alpha chapter.
Tickets were sold in advance and at the door, costing students $5 and non-students $7.
Those in attendance included OU President Roderick McDavis, Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, OU students and faculty.
Marc Lamont Hill, an associate professor of education and anthropology at Columbia University's Teachers College and the brunch's keynote speaker, cited mass suffering, first-class jails and second-class schools as examples of current-day problems in America. Despite these problems, Hill said the country is progressing in closing the disconnect between older and younger generations.
Over the last year we have seen
in some ways
a fulfillment of a particular type of political dream. ...At this moment
America might not just be growing old
it might also be growing up
Hill said.
