Community to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day & Obama Inauguration

January 20, 2009

A joint celebration to mark Martin Luther King Day and Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration will be held at Johnson State College’s Dibden Center for the Arts, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 from 4 to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The event, which organizers are calling, “Remember, Celebrate, Act,” will feature live jazz by college musicians, a welcome and remarks from college President Barbara E. Murphy, and a student reading from the works of famous African-American poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer and columnist Langston Hughes.

There will be community readings from the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Obama, and JSC students will read letters they will send to Obama.

Professor Jerry Anderson, who chairs JSC’s Humanities Department, will introduce the Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou (pictured left) of Chicago, a nationally renowned voice on religion, race and politics. Rev. Sekou’s speech will focus on Dr. King, Obama, and their mutual messages of hope, dreams and new beginnings.

“The intent of this event is to tie three things together,” said Margo Warden, Director of First Year Experience at the college. “It’s a celebration of Martin Luther King Day, Barack Obama’s inauguration, and a way for our students who have returned to campus to unite with the community and start the year with a renewed intention and purpose.”

The inauguration will be broadcast live on screens in Stearns Student Center, from 11:30 a.m. on.

You can view a slideshow with images from the event below: