The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently celebrated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and reflected upon the role of his dream in America today. Multiple events in January called upon the university community to perpetuate social justice through education and meaningful conversations.

Keynote Speaker: Ryan Mack

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, students, faculty and staff gathered in the Nebraska Union auditorium for the MLK Week Chancellor’s Program.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan Franco presented the Fulfilling the Dream Award to Karen Kassebaum, director of staff diversity and inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Fulfilling the Dream award is given to those who exemplify the values of Martin Luther King Jr.

“She makes you feel like the most important person in the world,” said Dr. Franco of Kassebaum.

Associated Students at the University of Nebraska (ASUN) President Spencer Hartman introduced keynote speaker Ryan Mack, a financial advisor and a teacher of financial literacy. Mack discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s passion for stopping poverty, and he argued that the next civil rights movement will be fought on an economic front. 

Throughout his speech, Mack stressed the importance of gaining an education and using knowledge to empower those in poverty.

“Knowledge in and of itself is nothing,” said Mack. “It is knowledge plus action that creates the movement.”

Mack encouraged attendees to use their unique purpose to give back to society, and he stated the importance of listening and giving to people.

“What Now? Your Rights and Responsibilities” Panel and Forum

On Thurs., Jan. 19, state Sen. Adam Morfield, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Communications Director Tyler Richard and Prof. Anna Shavers led a panel discussion on the future of rights in America. IDEA, the LGBTQA+ Resource Center and the Graduate Student Assembly hosted the event where students reflected on the role of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in modern-day America.

“I think the election has only added to this divided America,” said junior Aidan Connelly. “A lot of the work MLK did was to bring people together. This event and this week are important to remind us of MLK’s beliefs and what he worked on.”

Junior Elena Wickstrom also agreed that America was politically divided, and reflected on the importance of acceptance.

“Respecting diversity and using our diversity to make us all better people is the most important thing we can do in the upcoming year,” said Wickstrom.

Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet

On Friday, Jan. 20, the Afrikan People's Union hosted a sold-out banquet at the Nebraska Union. Current and past members of APU were joined by passionate student leaders, administrators and friends. The event's theme of "Strength in Numbers" served as a call to action to inspire individuals to become active leaders in the campus and community.

The evening opened with the Afrikan People's Union Gospel Choir singing the Black National Anthem. Following the bbq dinner, attendees were treated to a spoken word performance by junior Jewel Rodgers who earned a standing ovation for her piece on financial responsibility and the effects on social justice. Alfonzo Cooper, a Ph.D. student in opera, continued to inspire with his performance of a gospel piece and "Make Them Hear You."

The student performances set the stage for guest speaker Cynthia Gooch-Grayson, a former member of Afrikan People's Union. Dr. Gooch-Grayson called upon students and community members to get involved in multiple organizations and spread out their efforts so that passionate voices are represented in a variety of media. She even instructed individuals to pull out their phones as she shared contact information for the Nebraska legislators. Inspired by the words of Dr. King and his Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. Gooch-Grayson laid the plans for activism—yet she never directly shared the four steps she often referred to, instead insisting that attendees read the letter for themselves. 

Late Night Dish It Up

On Tues., Jan. 24, the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS) hosted a Late Night Dish It Up session to discuss MLK’s dreams and his legacy. OASIS Program Coordinator Kevin Reese led the discussion around what the word "dream" means and the dangers of an unfulfilled dream.

At the end of the discussion, Reese instructed participants to write their dream on a piece of paper. He encouraged participants to look at it at the end of the year to evaluate whether or not they have made efforts to achieve their goal.

Other Activities

The week included a Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16, sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement, when students performed service for Morrill Hall, the People's City Mission and Keep Lincoln and Lancaster County Beautiful. Culminating the week's events was the children's march and rally sponsored by Lincoln Public Schools. While this event was postponed for weather, the attendee's enthusiasm didn't wane.