Students, faculty and staff met in front of the Student Center Jan. 24 at x-period to silently march to the lawn by Twisted Taco where Pastor Charles Simmons took to the podium as guest speaker in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ongoing legacy. The silent aspect of the march encouraged reverence and thought among participants.
“It allows you to reflect on just exactly what MLK’s life stood for, what it meant, the impact it has had on our state, our country or even the world,” Vice President of Student Services Ronnie Williams said. “He was a transformational leader.”
Many faculty and staff members participate in the march annually. Williams has participated for over 20 years. UCA President Houston Davis would typically attend the event, but this year he was out of state for a meeting. Vice President of Finance Administration Diane Newton participated in the march for the first time this year, and another new face in the crowd belonged to Amanda Hoelzeman, who was hired as Director of Media Relations in August of last year.
After an opening prayer, members from four RSOs — Students for the Propagation of Black Culture, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Dancers United and Delta Sigma Theta — led the march, each group carrying banners representing its RSO. The march route went past the Student Amphitheater, around the front of Old Main, down the walkway in the center of Alumni Circle, to the Crosswalk past Wingo Hall, across Donaghey Avenue and to the circle walkway on the lawn next to Donaghey Hall.
As marchers filed around the circle walkway, Martin Luther King Jr.’s familiar voice boomed out of speakers.
“So, I’m happy tonight, I’m not worried about anything, I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,” King said via an audio clip from his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, which King delivered April 3, 1968 at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.
Chaplain of SPBC and junior Lashay Blackwell introduced Pastor Simmons by briefly describing his 15-year career history, including his upcoming pastoral position at the Connect Church location coming to Conway this year and his former pastor position at the ROK Church of Conway.
“Today, our theme is: Our roots run deep,” Simmons said upon opening his speech. He described the theme as timely, using the roots’ importance in relation to the health of a plant as an illustrative parallel to the importance of African American roots to the future of the culture.
“Despite the damages we have incurred, we are still standing because of our roots,” Simmons said.
He described the fight against inequality in America as ongoing.
“When properly done, the root system becomes a system of reciprocity. It is one that not only acknowledges the roots planted by our ancestors, but it also recognizes the ones that are being planted for our future. And make no mistake about it today, you are the future,” Simmons said.
Simmons encouraged the young black students in the crowd to remain patient and resilient in the face of continuing racial tensions.
“And I know that sometimes things are trying, sometimes it gets old to hear ‘keep pushing,’ sometimes it gets old hearing ‘keep going,’ but you have to keep going,” Simmons said. “You have to keep pushing because the opportunity that you have today was forged by the pressing of your ancestors.”
