Legacy Day honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s past, looks toward the future
Members of the Black Awakening Choir were one of the many performances at the MLK Legacy Day event. Photo by Salvador Zaragoza
Aaron Royce, Contributing Writer
Sophomore Samaya Peyton said she learned more from the Activities Programming Board’s legacy day celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. than she has in school.
“After the event, it meant more to me than what I thought,” Peyton said. “So coming to hear it now is more precious and sacred to me. Everything that was said makes me want to hold onto it more.”
Students gathered in the Commonwealth ballroom to share their views and experiences, and listen to speeches from guest speakers on Saturday when the Activities Programming Board hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. legacy day celebration.
Speakers included visiting University of Richmond professor Corey D.B. Walker and pastor Rivers Taylor. Student poets and local speakers were invited to share experiences and tributes to King’s legacy in the ballroom of the University Student Commons.
“I think so often, we get caught up with the daily trials, and tests, and quizzes, and homework. Events like this center us, get us back on track, and provide an opportunity to bring us together.” — Luke Porter
Peyton believes the celebration was important to VCU as a whole, especially as a comfortable space for students to connect with their cultural pasts and express themselves.
“I feel like, as black students, we see and hear about problems but we never talk about them,” she said. “Being able to talk about them, open up and have a safe space where we can be ourselves is always important. It’s important to continuously do things like this, and keep doing it as the world goes on.”
More than 200 students attended to honor King and learn about the impact of his activism.
“For me, it’s just black excellence,” said APB’s special events coordinator, senior Luke Porter. “He showed a way of doing things that was not common for the time. He also inspired others to do their best and change the mold, break barriers, and do great things.”
The dream King had for an equal society is one that students who attended want to preserve.
“King’s dream was to make the world a better place,” said sophomore Amaja Reed. “By us living and fulfilling our dreams, that’s making the world a better place.”
Senior Destiny Brown performed a poem honoring her ancestors at the event.
“It’s important to voice our opinions, appreciate how far we’ve come and give credit to everybody who’s gotten us here,” she said.
Brown saw the legacy day as an important event for students to appreciate the works of King and others like him who paved the way for modern-day civil rights.
“It’s important to know your history or have the opportunity to show appreciation,” Brown said. “These kinds of events need to be done more often. I don’t think a lot of people get the opportunity to show love to the people who got them to where they are. This is an opportunity to encourage one another and do our best in all that we do.”
The student lifestyle can make it difficult to honor the past. Events like legacy day allow students to unite and reflect in a safe environment.
“I think so often, we get caught up with the daily trials, and tests, and quizzes, and homework. Events like this center us, get us back on track, and provide an opportunity to bring us together,” Porter said.
