Julie Conlon
Managing Executive Editor
August 28, 2013 commemorated the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech from the March on Washington. On this day, the nation remembered Dr. King’s words, the movement he built and acknowledged the work that has yet to be done. Keene State College stopped, as did the country, to honor Dr. King and in a series of events that brought to life his dream and let his voice, 50 years later, reign. KSC President Anne Huot, Dr. Jay Kahn, Reverend Tracye Ruffin of Texas, former New Hampshire Representative Harvey Keye, Senator Molly Kelly, KSC professor Dr. James Waller and others spoke at various events and readings Wednesday and Thursday.
Ruffin led a discussion on the civil rights movement, opening dialogue for the KSC and Keene community to reflect and share stories, and President Huot opened a panel discussion on the subject of the present, past and future of civil rights.
On Wednesday, the college joined the nation and the world as one community participating in “Let Freedom Ring,” as the campus carillon bell rang simultaneously with church bells across the world in commemoration. KSC junior Taylor Howe attended a reading of the “I Have a Dream” speech. Howe explained that children of various races read from Dr. King’s speech.
“That was the most powerful part,” she said, referencing the children’s participation, “They are the youth, they are the ones that will go on to make Americans’ issues in regards to race better. Martin Luther King talked about his kids in the speech—it was powerful to listen to kids read it.”
Chief Officer of Diversity and Multiculturalism, Dottie Morris, expressed a sense of pride in the college for their efforts to commemorate and celebrate.
“I am proud of the college community and the larger surrounding community,” Morris said. “This is a momentous occasion, one that we should celebrate and use as a point of reflection.” Howe said KSC’s dedication to diversity and developing an understanding of differences became real to her at these events. Howe concluded, “Even though we are a predominantly white school, we put in the effort and attention to diversity and understanding. That is something that we as a community really care about.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at
jconlon@keene-equinox.com