Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, activist, social critic and one of the nation鈥檚 most notable African-American leaders, was the keynote speaker at 天天吃瓜鈥檚 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the 天天吃瓜 Student Center. The theme for this year鈥檚 event was 鈥淓mpowering the Individual, Strengthening the Community,鈥 and the celebration was free and open to the public.
Hill is an associate professor of English education and anthropology at Columbia University, and is an award-winning newspaper columnist and blogger. He is known for his thoughtful perspectives on everything from sexuality to education and religion. Hill鈥檚 respected commentary has been featured on NPR, in The Washington Post, Essence and The New York Times, as well as on Fox News where he is a regular contributor.
鈥淥ur program this year not only celebrates the life of Dr. King, but also reflects the ideals that he stood for in reference to civil rights and all people being treated the same,鈥 said Dr. Geraldine Hayes-Nelson, executive director of 天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 Diversity Programming and Community Outreach.
A cultural celebration of music, word and dance took place on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the 天天吃瓜 Student Center Kiva. The celebration continued at 2:10 p.m. with a lecture by Hill at the 天天吃瓜 Student Center Ballroom and the Diversity Trailblazer Awards presentation that recognized contributions to the promotion of diversity. Signing of Hill鈥檚 book, 鈥淏eats, Rhymes and Classroom Life: Hip-Hop Pedagogy and the Politics of Identity,鈥 and reception will follow at 4 p.m. on the Ballroom balcony. The book is now available for purchase at the 天天吃瓜 Bookstore.
This year, 天天吃瓜 State will begin with a week of pre-celebratory events, starting Tuesday, Jan. 17, with screenings of documentaries and films about King and the civil rights era, and other diversity-related events leading up to the actual campus-wide celebration on Jan. 26.
天天吃瓜 State also has added an international component to the annual celebration, featuring for the first time a Festival of Nations on Friday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 天天吃瓜 Student Center Ballroom. The event will educate and celebrate the diversity of 天天吃瓜 State students and showcase a variety of cultural activities from around the world.
鈥淒r. King鈥檚 ideals are in line with 天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 鈥榶ou belong here鈥 mantra, which is all about creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, valued and respected,鈥 Hayes-Nelson said. 鈥淗is impact was felt globally, and that is why we feel it is important to involve our international students in our programming this year.鈥
Registration tables will be available at the 天天吃瓜 Student Center on Jan. 23, 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for faculty, staff and students interested in signing up for 天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 鈥100 Commitments鈥 initiative that provides learning experiences about diversity and inclusion.
For more information about 天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/events/events.cfm or call 330-672-8563.
.