MLK Commemoration

 

UNCG, NC A&T come together for 2013 MLK Celebration!

Unity, diversity and fiscal responsibility are the key messages as UNCG and NC A&T collaborate on the 2013 Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.

For the first time, the sister universities are combining their resources to offer a themed MLK program, “Empowerment through Diversity: Sharing the Dream.” Dick Gregory, humanitarian and comedian, will deliver the keynote address Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. in UNCG’s Aycock Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public, and doors open at 6 p.m. In addition to Gregory’s remarks, UNCG will present its annual MLK Service Award and NC A&T will present its MLK Scholarship Award.

In the past, UNCG and NC A&T have handled their own programming, bringing in separate speakers and planning separate activities.

“Bridging this  gap between the two institutions creates a wonderful dynamic for the both campus communities,” says Gerald Spates, director of the Multicultural Student Center at NC A&T.

“We are hoping that both campuses will generate dialogue in and out of the classroom about the importance of Dr. King’s legacy and how he impacted history and the world,” says Audrey Lucas, UNCG’s director for multicultural affairs.

Dr. Mark Villacorta, assistant director for multicultural affairs at UNCG, says the move toward a coordinated MLK event between the campuses is a good one for many reasons.

The universities, both part of the UNC system, can share costs and draw a larger crowd for the keynote address, Villacorta says. He adds that working together is a perfect expression of Dr. King’s vision for America.

“Part of Dr. King’s dream was to bring people together from all different parts of society,” Villacorta says. “I think he would be pleased to see this partnership.”

Gregory has authored 15 books. He has recorded seven records and has appeared on television and in films.

Gregory also is a nutritionist, a veteran of more than 100 fasts. He has committed his life to nonviolent social change.

King and Gregory often were jailed together as they demonstrated for civil rights in the 1960s, and Gregory became increasingly involved with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) efforts to bring freedom, justice and equality to all black people in America. As a result of his activism, Gregory’s career suffered, but he says King taught him a higher principle — the philosophy of nonviolence.

Over the years, Gregory has used his humor toward this end, speaking out against racism, sexism, drug abuse and violence in America. He also spent over $1 million dollars researching a nutritional solution to world hunger.

Starting in 1974, Gregory developed the 4X Formula, a nutritional formula that requires no cooking or refrigeration. To call attention to world hunger, he ran from Los Angeles to New York City in 1976, averaging 50 miles per day for 71 days and consuming only his 4X Formula.

Gregory and his family are committed to improving the condition of humanity here and abroad. Never deterred by injustice and the threat of violence, Gregory once declared, “We will march through your dogs! And if you get some elephants, we’ll march through them. And bring on your tigers and we’ll march through them.”

For more information on the joint MLK celebration being planned by UNCG and NC A&T, contact Mark Villacorta at 336-334-5090, mavillac@uncg.edu;  or Gerald Spates at 336-334-7800, gspates@ncat.edu.

2013 Martin Luther King Jr Celebration

When: Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 7PM
Where: Aycock Auditorium, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

FREE and open to the public!

Official Co-Sponsors

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Office of Multicultural Affairs
Division of Student Affairs
Undergraduate Studies
Office of Leadership and Service Learning
Housing and Residence Life
Campus Activities Board

North Carolina A&T State University

The MLK Commemorative Observance Committee
The Division of Student Affairs

 

 

Listing of past Keynote Speakers and MLK Service Award Winners

YEAR KEYNOTE SPEAKER SERVICE AWARD WINNER
2012 Elaine Brown Parker Hurley (Student)
2011 Dr. Terrence Roberts Kent L. Singletary (Student)
2010 Dr. Mae Jemison Zimuzor Ugochukwu (Student)
2009 Rev. Al Sharpton Wanda Torain (Undergraduate Admissions)
2008 Bernice A. King Brandon Nnodi (Student)
2007 Dr. Joseph Lowery, civil rights activist Dr. Spoma Jovanovic (Communication Studies)
2006 Angela Davis, Black Panther, UC Berkeley, etc. Rhonda Robinson (Student)
2005 Julian Bond, NAACP Chairman, former Georgia senator Kathleen Casey (Educational Leadership & Cultural Foundations)
2004 Franklin McCain, one of Greensboro Four Dauvell Evans (Student)
2003 Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, Pastor, Monumental Baptist Church, Memphis; was with MLK Jr. during last hour Patricia J. Bowden (Religious Studies)
2002 Dr. Jocelyn Elders, first African American woman to be US Surgeon General Joette Nicole McLaurin (Student)
2001 Herman Boone, former football coach; inspiration for “Remember the Titans” Erma Totten (Service Worker, Cone Residence Hall)
2000 David Dinkins, former mayor of NYC Robert Earl Randolph, Jr. (Student)
1999 Manning Marable, historian and author; Professor, Columbia Patricia L. Bailey (Director, Disability Services)
1998 Myrlie Evers-Williams, Chair, NAACP; widow of Medgar Evers Jeffrey Thigpen (Student)
1997 Shirley Chisholm, former US Representative Lenora A. Richardson
1996 Dr. Michael K. Honey Deardre R. Johnson (Student)
1995 Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Communications Studies at UNC-CH Darrell Wheeler
1994 Dr. George Subira Patrice N. Vinson (Student)
1993 Ms. Naomi Tutu Carolyn Moore
1992 Dr. James Cone Daniel T. “J J” McEachern (Student)
1991 Rev. Tyrone Crider Odessa Patrick (Biology)
1990 Mary Berry William R. McNeely, Jr. (Student)
1989 Rev. Ralph Abernathy, associate of MLK Jr. and leader of SCLC Ernestine Small (Nursing)
1988 John Lewis, Congressman, Georgia Bradley Mitchell (Student)
1987 Dick Gregory, comedian and political activist Joseph Himes (Sociology)