By Molly Ford
The work and words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were honored yesterday at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute’s (JDOAAI) annual convocation. Through excerpts of King’s speeches, music from the Unity Gospel Ensemble and words of inspiration from significant leaders, around 500 people celebrated in Blackman Auditorium the life of the famous civil rights leader.
“Our university has a responsibility to not only exist, but to also be a model,” Northeastern President Joseph Aoun said in his opening remarks.
Rev. Zan Wesley Holmes, the former pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, delivered the keynote speech. Holmes kept the audience both entertained and pensive through anecdotes about what can be done to continue King’s legacy.
Holmes, who was a personal friend of King and worked with him in the 1950’s/1960’s, spoke to the full auditorium about the importance community has on achieving social change.
“If we are to achieve King’s vision, we need to learn to come together,” Holmes said. Holmes also spoke of the importance of “checking your ego at the door.” “There is no end to what we can do together if we don’t care who gets the credit,” he said.
The Unity Gospel Ensemble received several standing ovations for their musical pieces, and the assembly closed with the audience singing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.”
The audience was comprised of students from the Health Careers Academy, a local high school and community members from the Boston area, as well as Northeastern students and staff. The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, King’s fraternity, were also there.
Richard O’Bryant, the director of the JDOAAI, who delivered remarks at the event, said the No. 1 way students can appreciate diversity is in understanding each other, and events like the convocation can help students see diversity in action. Jairo Montero, a freshman business major, said Holmes, “was inspiring. I’m at loss for words.”
Steven Polanco, a freshman political science major, said he was glad to see such a good turnout at the event. Polonco said the most moving moment in the convocation came with this advice from Holmes: “never say your best year is in the past, always look forward.”
In an interview before the event, O’Bryant said on the individual level, relationships are better now than they were 20 years ago on campus, with more interracial friendships.
O’Bryant also said the campus is in the process of becoming more diverse, but there is still room for growth in terms of enrollment of more minority students at Northeastern.
He added that students must see diversity in action in order for changes to occur on campus.
Following Holmes’ point of always looking forward, Aoun challenged the Northeastern community: “Is the journey over? Clearly no
