Articles

Spring 2024; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner

By Madeleine Cerone

February 27, 2024

On Thursday, January 25, 2024 the campus community gathered inside the Tolles Pavilion to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while enjoying good food and great company. During this yearly event, Hamilton students, faculty and staff listened to a number of respected community members share how the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. shaped their lives. 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner is a tradition that persists at Hamilton because it’s a time where we, as a community, take the opportunity to pause and reflect. One noticeable form of reflection came about in the memories shared by our panel of faculty and staff. These speakers included Dr. Bonike Odegbami, Professor Nigel Westmaas, Professor Margie Thickston, College Chaplain Trevor Beauford, President David Wippman, Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion, Maria Genao-Homs, Professor A. Todd Franklin, Director of Public Policy and Professor Frank Anechiarico, Assistant Professor Kwabena Edusei, Associate Director of Athletics and Professor Deidre Pierson, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Ngonidzashe Munemo. Each of these speakers characterized a moment when Martin Luther King, himself or his ideas, took on a greater role or meaning in their lives. MLK Dinner guests heard stories from their childhoods, times of military service, and beginnings of their careers. 

A different perspective was offered with each speaker, which gave the guests a lot to think about. So, a second form of inner reflection took place for each attendee. We had the opportunity to take the words of each speaker and relate to them, learn from them, and discuss them around our tables. Furthermore, after the event finished and we all traveled home, we had the chance to share our new knowledge with friends, relatives, or spouses who could not be there that night. 

Personally, leaving the MLK dinner, I felt hopeful for the possibility for racial progress. The motivation to go out in search of Martin Luther King’s dream felt stronger, and more real to me. Although when the dinner came up in conversation with my roommate, I also recognized the need for me to acknowledge my own privilege. From my position in society, it is easier to imagine that change is forthcoming. However I should remind myself of the hard work that needs to take place before we get there. I hope that by simply listening to one another and sharing the different perspectives of our learned experiences, we as a college campus can start to move forward. When we leave this place on College Hill Rd, I encourage us all to use what we have learned here to bring the world forward towards a better future as well.