Online remembrance honors King’s life and legacy with conversation, inspiration
The 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Celebration on Jan. 15, 2021, featured Project 1972: A Conversation with our Elders, a panel discussion with Penn Staters who shared their experiences as Black students at the University in 1968-72. Clockwise from top left are: Denita Wright Watson, Barry Reddish, Monte Dawson, Earl Frank Merritt, Gary Abdullah, Selma Harrison and AnneMarie Mingo.
Image: Patrick Mansell
46th Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration offers chance to reflect, respect, learn
January 17, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. On Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) and Penn State World Campus partnered to host the 46th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Celebration, “Project 1972: A Conversation with our Elders.”
In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated after his role as a pioneer in the civil rights movement. To honor his legacy, Penn Stateâs Forum on Black Affairs hosted âProject 1972: A Conversation with Our Eldersâ on Friday, Jan. 15 â Kingâs birthday.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Celebration was not able to gather in person. Ultimately, the event was held on Zoom in partnership with Penn State World Campus Student Affairs.
Penn State President Eric Barron, joined by wife Molly Barron, gave the welcoming remarks for the event.
âMartin Luther King Jr. was a great leader, and he catalyzed remarkable change,â Barron said. âToday, our worries are much worse.â
In annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s legacy, Penn Stateâs Forum of Black Affairs will be hosting âProject 1972: A Conversation with Our Eldersâ this Friday, Jan. 15 virtually from 5-6:30 p.m.
The virtual panel will highlight the experiences of Penn State staff and faculty who either worked at the university during the Civil Rights Movement or were in the universityâs class of 1972.
Performances from Jeffrey Lampkin and the Francis Marion YGB along with the announcement of the Fannie Lou Hamer â W.E.B. DuBois Service Scholarship award recipient will be included in Fridayâs commemoration of Dr. King.
This year’s Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Celebration, hosted by Penn State’s Forum on Black Affairs, will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 15 via Zoom.
In past years, Penn Staters and community members gathered together in person to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but due to the coronavirus pandemic, FoBA needed to make a change.
“This year, due to the global pandemic, we will not be able to gather in person, so we have partnered with our colleagues from Penn State World Campus Student Affairs to virtually commemorate Dr. King’s legacy,” FoBA President Andre Culbreath said. “We look forward to seeing you at this special occasion in honor of Dr. King.”