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Hastings College speaker highlights importance of Martin Luther King
The inauguration might have been the most watched event on national news Monday, but celebrations for Martin Luther King Day also held a special significance.
Hastings College used MLK day as a way to set the tone for future dialogue on campus. They brought in a special speaker from Colorado his message was entitled "21st Century Rainbow Coalition." He took events from the civil rights movement and connected those events to what we're seeing right now in history. But he also talked about the positive role Dr. King played in his life. In a dimly lit auditorium people of all ages and colors join hands to commemorate the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Dr. King was always representing us in a positive manner I keep that in mind every time I go to a new place," said Bryan Wright. Dr. King wasn't known as a politician but a drum major for justice. Guest speaker for the MLK event at Hastings College, Bryan Wright is just one living example of Dr. King's continued legacy. In 2008, Wright served as the first African American principal at Greeley West High School in Colorado. "I asked them one question, are you bringing me here to make a change in schools or are you just bringing me here to take care of the little brown kids that cause you difficulty?" said Wright. The school said they wanted change and Wright immediately went to work. "We started 'no place for hate.' We were a state recognized site, we started that in Greeley, with a poetry magazine, then we had an anti-bullying magazine," Wright said. His hope is to start a similar initiative in Hastings. After the event the speaker and listeners brought their discussion here at the Student union they talked about ways to better connect different cultures in the Hastings community. "If you don't speak nothing occurs." "We're trying to become the voice for those minorities or people in general who feel like they don't belong here," said Quincy Johnson. "We're all human, in general. I think we need to realize that fact and come together based on that similarity," Alex Eisele said. A vision King proudly preached at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. "We can start it with one, but we need to make sure we continue that with other voices coming about," said Wright. Several leaders at Hastings College are working to create a continued dialogue between different cultures throughout the community. One way they plan to do that is through events like Monday. The next event for Black History month is set for the end of February. |
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