CSU remembers MLK on day off
Thirty-five years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. shared his message
of equality. On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, CSU students
remembered this message and his teachings while commemorating his
life.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was made an official national
holiday in 1986, reserves the third Monday of January in
remembrance of King and his ideas of non-violence and equality.
“On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional
love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary
spirit,” said Coretta Scott King, King’s wife at the time of his
death, in an article on the King Center Web site.
According to the King Center, it is important to continue King’s
teachings by remembering not only Martin Luther King Jr., but also
his teachings and his messages concerning non-violence and human
rights.
Theresa Grangruth, an administrative assistant for Black Student
Services who was on the committee for the MLK celebration at CSU,
said it is important to remember King because he wanted equality
for everyone.
“He was not a person who was concerned just about African
American rights, but all human rights,” Grangruth said.
Kris Folsom, coordinator of the Lory Student Center, said she
thinks celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day is key to remembering
his message.
“It helps us celebrate the legacy of a man who was instrumental
to bringing issues of social justice to the public,” Folsom
said.
Robyn Irons, an interior design senior, said King was imperative
to the civil rights movement.
“He made people think about the inequality of black people
versus white people,” Irons said.
Irons said King was important because he influenced others to
fight for the cause.
“We must remember what we were like as a nation before and what
he did for us,” Irons said.
Many at CSU feel that Martin Luther King’s 35-year-old message
can be applied even to modern day issues.
“There’s still work to be done,” Grangruth said.
Grangruth said even today King’s ideas can still educate others
about the importance of making a message heard and standing up for
what is right.
“I think he would teach us more about the issues at hand and
more about taking action and not just talking,” Grangruth said.
James White, interim assistant director of Black Student
Services, said he thinks King should be remembered for his
non-violent protests.
“I think he can still teach us the message of non-violence and
working toward educating people about racial equality but in a
non-violent way,” White said.
White said many could learn from King, especially now with a
hip-hop culture that sometimes promotes messages of violence.
“We should continue striving for (the non-violent message),”
White said.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.