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EVENT  //  Celebration

Martin Luther King, III Visits UAPB 65 Years After His Father

by Dianna Donahue - 02.27.2023
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One of Arkansas' historical, educational treasures, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, ended its Black History Month celebration with featured guest speaker Martin Luther King, III - the eldest son of iconic Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. His visit to the campus took place 65 years after his father gave the 1958 commencement speech. This was a very controversial decision made by the former Arkansas AM&N chancellor, Lawrence A. Davis, Sr., one that Black and white Arkansans disliked because they viewed Dr. King as a troublemaker with the potential of disrupting how things were.
"65 years ago my father, I think this was the only place in the state of Arkansas, the only school at least that he spoke for commencement."
This program launched the university’s year-long sesquicentennial celebration and was the closing feature for Black History Month. In King III's speech, he shed light on several topics affecting Black people and Black communities, including the significance of being "woke," the political, state-base game of passing laws against Critical Race Theory, the effort of removing elements of Black history from all levels of education except law school, how media will portray efforts for justice and equality, and the true purpose and intent of the Black Lives Matter movement, organization, and declaration. He charged the attendees to be more involved in what is happening in their communities and in the world, especially the young people.
"There are communities around our nation that are saying that Black History, elements of Black History, that should not be the case in 2023 ... I'm encouraging our community to say enough is enough, we're not gonna accept that. ...We need young people to be engaged in leadership so that we change, in a positive way, in our nation. ...I'm not proud of what we had to go through [in the past 12 years], but I'm excited by the fact that there were young people engaged in leadership. 
In King III's conclusion, he accented his encouragement to leadership by referencing a snippet of his father's famous words to tell the audience how to start the process of becoming a leader:

"Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can’t be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be the best little shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are - that's our challenge!"

The evening included a UAPB ROTC Color Guard and the Spirit Team presentation and performances from the UAPB's legendary Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South (M4 Band) and the Vesper Choir. Minister Charles Harris, III, provided the Invocation, Miss UAPB, Errayionna Jackson, gave the greeting, and Zach Webb provided the purpose of the evening. The event was attended by several of Pine Bluff's dignitaries including, Mayor Shirley M. Washington and Senator Stephanie Flowers, and noted UAPB Alum, including Bill Walker. The evening ended with closing remarks from Dr. Laurence B. Alexander, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's distinguished Chancellor and the school's alma mater. The program was live-streamed on the college's YouTube channel and free to the public.
event pictures
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ur·bane \ər-ˈbān\: adj. notably polite or polished in manner
©2023 URBANE Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • HOME
  • CURRENT ISSUE
  • URBANE's Finest of 2023
  • HIGHLIGHTS
    • URBANE Stories
    • Arkansas Black History
    • NishaSpeaks
    • Readers' Choice
    • Listen First
    • Business Spotlight
    • URBANE Eats
    • Arkansas Black Graduates >
      • 2023 Graduates
      • 2022 Graduates
      • 2021 Graduates
    • Mothers' Day Tributes >
      • 2022 Mothers
      • 2021 Mothers
    • Fathers' Day Tributes >
      • 2022 Fathers
      • 2021 Fathers
  • GALLERY
    • 2023 >
      • CBR'z Catering's Food Truck
      • Sisters in the Movement: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
      • UAPB Black History Month Program 2023
      • 2023 UAMS Midsouth Black Expo
      • Alivia Beauty Co Grand Opening
      • 2nd Friday Art Night
      • 2nd Anniversary Mixer
      • 2023 MLK Recommitment Celebration
      • CAAC 2023 Founders Day
      • Honorable Swearing-In
    • 2022 >
      • 72nd Annual Debutante Ball
      • Kappa Christmas Ball
      • Realtist Choice Awards Gala
      • 2022 Wingtips Blazers & Stilettos
      • Truth Sauce Story Premier
      • 2022 Black Empowerment Awards
      • Frank Scott Watch Party
      • Chris Jones Watch Party
      • 2022 John H Johnson Day
      • 2022 LR Full Figure Fashion Show
      • Flyght Black
      • Charley Palmer
      • Black Mayors Association 50th Anniversary
      • Black Owned NWA Expo
      • Tjuana Byrd Internship Program Closing Reception
      • 2022 UAMS Midsouth Black Expo
      • 2022 NBA Championship Trophy Tour
      • HMTC 50th Reunion
      • Scott Campaign Office Opening
      • Chief Keith
      • Sister Friends United 14
      • Camp Unidad
      • The Black Derby Brunch
      • Delois J Braggs
      • Coach Davis Dedication
      • 1st Anniversary Mixer
      • Who Is Scipio Africanus Jones
      • Stephanie Hobbs
      • 2022 King Kennedy Awards
      • Emerging Arkansas Artists Showcase
      • Bank On America
    • 2021 >
      • MLK Christmas
      • Fredrick Love
      • Black Caucus
      • 2021 Wingtips Blazers & Stilettos
      • Arkansas RGB Music Showcase
      • Korto Momolo Fashion Show
      • Flyght Black Wine Tasting
      • New Black Panther Party
      • Speak Now
      • Same Different Amazing
      • Return of The Mac
      • Bobby Portis Foundation Back-2-School
      • Bobby Portis Foundation Gala
      • Worship Recharge Concert
      • Jones Bar-B-Q
      • Natalie James
      • We The People
      • Being Your Own Boss
      • Meet The Editor
      • BizAr Networking Mixer
      • The Honorable Choice
      • Creme de la Creme
      • Green Book Exhibit Opening Reception
      • Sister Friends United
      • Brae Leni & Friends
  • LOCAL GUIDES
    • Central
    • Northeast
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  • CALENDAR
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