Mason Celebrates Dr. King

By Broadside Contributor Bobby Dongu
Photo by Broadside Photographer Nahideh Navab

The George Mason University community reflected on the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 30 at a commemoration for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning civil rights leader.

Following a musical performance by the GMU Gospel Choir, Mason Provost Dr. Peter Stearns spoke to the Dewberry Hall audience, noting the importance of reflecting on the life of Dr. King.

“Martin Luther King Day is an opportunity to look back on a tremendously creative individual and on the many people whose courage and vision informed and shaped his movement,” Stearns said.

While Stearns noted the importance of reflecting on Dr. King’s life, he also said that the commemoration serves another purpose–to recognize how far Dr. King’s vision has come in the nearly 40 years since his assassination.

“It’s an opportunity to think about where his dream and legacy stand today,” Stearns said. “I am tremendously pleased with the contributions we get towards diversity [and] social justice from students and student organizations... But we also have a variety of areas where we fall considerably short."

“This is not something we should be thinking of one day. It’s something we should be thinking of all year.”

Motivational consultant Steve Birdine took the stage following Stearns’ speech. In a passionate speech, Birdine pointed out the hardships faced by Dr. King in the pursuit of his causes. He mentioned that Dr. King was stabbed, accused of tax evasion and his house was bombed during his time as a minister and civil rights leader.

Despite these attacks, Dr. King emerged as a national figure in the civil rights movement and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In addition, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.

[Dr. King] was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things,” said Birdine. “Martin Luther King is a perfect example of when skill matches with opportunity."

“[He] was a man of action. If you only celebrate Dr. King’s life and the people around King one day a year, you are disrespecting [his] entire legacy.”

Birdine also spoke for the need of a more honest conversation about diversity, saying that regardless of background, “there’s something in the [diversity and multicultural] dialogue for everyone,” said Birdine. “We need to value everyone in the community if we are going to have an active dialogue.”

The event also honored one Mason student and staff member with the Spirit of King Award, which is awarded annually during the Dr. King commemoration. According to the student nomination form, the award is given “to a student or student leader who has made an exceptional contribution to the development of a multicultural campus community.”

For his efforts, which included mentoring freshmen and sophomores, junior economics major Mawuli Vodi received the student Spirit of King Award.

To be considered for the faculty or staff Spirit of King award, one must contribute to “a multicultural campus community through his/her teaching, research or work that involves advocacy for equality and justice.” Part-time communication instructor Rebecca Walter, who also works for the Multicultural Research and Resource Center, was named the recipient of the award.

The event was hosted by Mason’s Office of Diversity Programs and Services Planning Committee. ODPS Director Dr. Joya Crear and Assistant Director Calvin Haney chaired the committee.