The uplifting and educational music of the Grammy Award-winning group Sweet Honey in the Rock will cap off a series of events at Colgate University honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The campuswide activities will feature readings of King’s speeches, music, discussions, presentations, and faculty and student-led workshops on civil rights topics.
The theme of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration: arts and activism.
“We’re looking for ways in which the arts provide a powerful vehicle through which differences can be honored and celebrated,” said Jaime Nolan, director of the office of undergraduate studies and an organizer of the celebration.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, Sweet Honey in the Rock, a female a cappella ensemble, performs at Memorial Chapel. Known for its soothing music, the group creates a blend of lyrics, movement, and narrative that tackles injustices and encourages activism.
Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sweet Honey in the Rock has deep musical roots in sacred music — spirituals, hymns, gospel — as well as jazz and blues.
Nolan believes “addressing issues of social injustice through music makes visible threads of commonality which create much needed connections that bind each of us to the work of Martin Luther King Jr.”
The events also serve as an opportunity for Hamilton area children to learn more about King’s fight for racial equality.
Prior to the musical performance, sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders from Hamilton Central Schools will read their winning essays in Colgate’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Essay Contest.
“By taking the time to participate in this way, we create a pause, a moment from which to consider whether or not we are contributing to ‘the dream,'” added Nolan.
All activities are free and open to the public.
Here are other events planned for Monday, Jan. 21:
• 1 p.m., multipurpose room in the ALANA Cultural Center: “Continuing the Beloved Community: Discussion on Race and Society in Post-King America.” This workshop will serve as the kick-off for a discussion group on race and society that several students have put together for the spring semester.
• 1 p.m., lounge of the ALANA Cultural Center: “We Can’t have Nothing!: Appreciation or Appropriation.” Participants will be challenged to explore the differences between cultural appropriation and appreciation.
• 4 p.m., multipurpose room in the ALANA Cultural Center: “Social Justice Theater: Creative Approaches to Undoing Racism Using Autobiography and Spoken Word.” In this interactive session, participants will learn a powerful process that can jump start the work of undoing racism.
• 4 p.m., lounge of the ALANA Cultural Center: “A Work in Progress: The Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Dimensions of Leadership” facilitated by students who attended the National Black Student Leadership Conference.
• 8 p.m., Donovan’s Pub: “Release Night” hosted by the Black Student Union. Students capture the spirit of the day through various artistic expressions.