A look back at last week’s cultural events celebrating MLK Jr. and his dream
By Dakota Gold
Staff Writer
AC&T
Throughout last week, Winthrop University held several cultural events in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The week of events was coordinated by Director of Student Conduct Collins Cornwell in the Office of the Dean of Students, who highlighted the importance of the arts in approaching reflection on Civil Rights history.
In an article written by Winthrop’s News and Events Center, Cornwell said, “We will honor Dr. King’s legacy while creating space for reflection, creativity and collective action.”
No classes were held on Monday in celebration and in service of the federal holiday.
On Jan. 19, Winthrop’s Xi Phi chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity held a candlelight vigil in Dina’s Place.
This event included a performance from the Winthrop University Vision of Praise who used songs to honor the spiritual traditions of the Civil Rights Movement.
Jacobe Reid, a teacher at Chester Middle School and fraternity member, was the guest speaker at the event. Reid spoke on the Bible passage Luke 5.
He talked about being “fishers of men” and how regardless of appearance or class, we are all called to God’s kingdom and are meant to reach out to those not within our circle.
Sophie Goodwin, a freshman, attended the event and said she enjoyed learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and his persisting legacy.
“The event was an incredible representation of MLK’s values and was deeply impactful,I had a wonderful time and learned a lot,” Goodwin said.
On Jan. 20, the Department of Theatre and Dance held “Undance” in Johnson Theatre.
This dance performance held during common time showcased the work of student choreographers and dancers.
On the evening of Jan. 21, DiGiorgio Student Union showed the movie “Sinners.”
This supernatural horror film dives into matters of sin, racial oppression, and the spirit of the south.
It blends themes of Black culture, religion, and freedom while using metaphors to critique the control of Christianity in the South during the 1930s.
The critically acclaimed movie was shown last week as a representation of the persecution that MLK fought to change.
Dina’s Place held “The Sound of a Dream” on Jan. 22, a vocal performance by the Winthrop Chorale and Chamber singers in Dina’s Place.
The concert during common time included four selections of music, each by a Black composer.
Cornwell explained the cultural relevance of each piece.
One of the pieces was “Total Praise,” written by Richard Smallwood in 1996.
Concluding the performance was a time for student questions and discussion to reflect on the music and themes.
To end the week, there was a campus clean up on Friday from 2–6 p.m.
This event was sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and the Department of Residence Life.
Students who wished to participate gathered with other volunteers in the DiGiorgio Campus Center for an afternoon of cleaning up our campus and keeping it a beautiful place.
Winthrop has celebrated MLK Day with events and treated it as a day of remembrance and service since 2000.
For more information on future events, see the cultural events calendar at winthrop.org.
