On January 15, 2021, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 92 years old. The university commemorates Dr. King’s birthday each year with special events highlighting issues that resonate with his mission of racial equality and justice. This year, Southern will host two virtual events to honor the legacy of the civil rights pioneer: one on January 27 (co-hosted with other local institutions) and one on February 8.
“The Work Ahead, The Work Within: Reflecting on King’s Dream”
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
7:15-8:30 p.m.
Registration required
The university and Greater New Haven communities are invited to attend this year’s intercollegiate virtual MLK Commemoration that honors the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With generous sponsorship from our campus partners, Yale University’s 2021 MLK Commemoration Planning Committee, Gateway Community College’s Office of Student Activities, Quinnipiac University’s Department of Cultural and Global Engagement, and Southern Connecticut State University’s Multicultural Center are co-hosting this inaugural intercollegiate event that will feature Patrisse Cullors (co-Founder of Black Lives Matter and best-selling author of When They Call You a Terrorist) and Yamiche Alcindor (White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour and NBC and MSNBC political contributor).
This virtual event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please visit this site to register: https://tinyurl.com/YaleMLK21.
Visit MLK.YALE.EDU for more info.
“Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Pandemic, Privilege and Protest” Virtual Event
Monday, February 8, 2021
1:00 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event will feature keynote speaker minister, activist, and scholar Nyle Fort. Mr. Fort will explore not only how the pandemic reveals deeper patterns of racial inequality, but how students and staff can respond in order to save our fragile experiment in democracy by drawing reference to some of Dr. King’s work. Sponsored by the Multicultural Center. Register here to receive the meeting link.
From Mr. Fort: Pandemic, Privilege and Protest
About 2 million people worldwide have fallen victim to COVID-19. Over 380,000 have died in the United States. While the pandemic affects everyone it disproportionately harms black communities.
Racial inequality in medical care, wealth, employment, housing, and incarceration all impact death and infection rates. African Americans have more underlying conditions and less access to health care than white Americans. Black workers bore the brunt of coronavirus layoffs and those still working risk their lives to make ends meet. Even the ability to practice social distancing depends on race, class, and zip code.
Meanwhile, police violence continues to run amok as evidenced in the recent police killing of George Floyd. Amid the deadliest pandemic in over a century, protesters are taking to the streets to challenge legacies of racial injustice.
This is an unprecedented moment in American history.
This virtual talk and Q&A with Nyle Fort will explore not only how the pandemic reveals deeper patterns of racial inequality, but how students can respond in order to save our fragile experiment in democracy by drawing upon Dr. King’s teachings.
