From swaying to the sound of the UCA Gospel Choir to clapping to the words of Ronnie Williams, the Conway community came together to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast was held Jan. 17 in the Ronnie Williams Student Center. Ronnie Williams, whom the student center was named after, was the keynote speaker at the annual event.
“The observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an occasion for all of us to reflect,” Williams said. “We need to reflect on where we are as a nation. We really need to ask that question. Are we living up to Dr. King’s humanitarian ideas of racial justice, equal opportunity, kindness, respect, forgiveness and adhering to nonviolence as a way of life? Are we doing that? Answering those questions in the affirmative has never been easy.”
Williams said that before he attended Hendrix College he, “had never sat in a classroom with anybody who didn’t look like [him].”
“I never had an opportunity to interact with somebody that did not look like me or had my background,” Williams said. “That’s what this is all about. We have to be intentional. We should value those connections over the divisive rhetoric that we see here in the world. We should remain open-minded.”
Nadia Eslinger, director of student success, spoke about what MLK Day means to her.
“We celebrate Dr. King because he was an advocate for nonviolent protests and brought hope that one day all people would be treated equally. To me, the holiday, the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday as a Black woman, a mom and an educator, holds profound significance, especially in today’s climate,” Eslinger said.
“It is the day to reflect on the progress made, the challenges that remain, and the responsibility I carry to continue Dr King’s legacy of equity, justice and love and action as a Black woman,” she said. “MLK Day is a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of those who fought for civil rights and equality. Allow me to stand here today. It is a call to honor my identity and advocate for fairness and opportunity for all, especially in the face of ongoing, systematic barriers.
“As a mom, the holiday is deeply personal. It inspires me to instill in my children the values of courage, compassion and a sense of responsibility to fight injustice. I want them to know their history, understand the sacrifices of those who came before them, and feel empowered to be agents of change in their own lives. As an educator, MLK Day is a moment to recommit to my role in shaping the minds and hearts of future leaders. It challenges me to create spaces where diversity is celebrated and all voices are valued, even in the midst of polarizing political environments. It reminds me that education is not just about knowledge, but about teaching empathy, critical thinking and the drive to create a better, more equitable world. It is also a day that brings people from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.”
Williams said people of today’s society need to adopt the values MLK stood for.
“We live in a world badly in need of compassion, inclusion, healing and forgiveness that Dr. King stood for throughout his short time in this world. In this time of trial, ladies and gentlemen, we must rededicate ourselves to the vision and the values that Dr. King espoused during his career. They should move us to open dialog and constructive engagement packaged in compassion.”
During the event, attendees were encouraged to donate to the Bear Essentials Food Pantry.
Elsinger said, “Because Dr. King was a man of compassion and service, the MLK Prayer Breakfast committee decided to add a voluntary philanthropic component to the event to assist the UCA Bear Essential Food Pantry and keeping the shelves stocked to serve the students on campus.”