The University of Central Arkansas hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast Jan. 17 in the Student Center Ballroom. This year’s theme, “The Dream: Vision Beyond 20/20,” focused on the legacy of Dr. King as well as the direction of racial justice in the current day. 

Breakfast itself was served at 8 a.m. in the ballroom and continued until 9 a.m., when the event’s keynote speaker, Tamika Edwards, the Executive Director of the Social Justice Institute, took the floor. Afterward, ministers Shawanna Rodgers and Nathan McDivitt offered their own insights.

A selection of songs were performed by UCA Community Music Institute member Ronald Jensen-McDaniel and piano student Malachi Kirby who opened and closed the event along with an interpretive dance by sophomore Jazmin Wallace.

In her speech, Edwards spoke of the dedication and individual sacrifice given by King and the members of the civil rights movement. Edwards also noted the role indivdidual citizens must play in their everyday lives to effectively move forward as a community as it concerns racial justice. 

She made a point not to seperate the stuggles endured by King from the efforts of current activists.  

“I’m the executive director of the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College,” Edwards said. “I think a lot of people could not wait for 2020 to use the vision because it means clarity, its important for us to have a clear vision of our history.” 

Edwards alluded to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s 2017 decision to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day exclusively, despite the fact that it coincides with Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s birthday. She praised the decision as an example of a stride forward in the fight for progress.

The breakfast also featured remarks from UCA President Houston Davis, who congratulated and thanked the performers, speakers, as well as the newly appointed members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast Committee.

Since 2008 the prayer breakfast has been put on by the Office of Diversity and Community. This committee now designates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast a university-sponsored event.

Among the attending was Congressman French Hill, along with representatives of other state offices. 

Angela Jackson, the associate dean and director of the Office of Diversity and Community, has witnessed the event grow immensely since 2010. In an interview with Fox 16’s “Good Day,” Jackson spoke about her love for diversity and the impact it has made on campus. 

“It has been a labor of love for 13 years, and it has definitely grown a lot since 2008,” Jackson said. “The man he was and what he did for our country and nation during the civil rights movement deserves to be remembered.” 

Jackson explained that though the event is held at the University of Central Arkansas, it is also an event for the community. Not only does the Office of Diversity and Community market this event to students and faculty, but they also work to include residents of Faulkner County as well as Pulaski County. 

Throughout her career, Edwards has stressed the importance of social justice.

“We want to explain social justice against individual justices, and social justice is really about helping people when it gets down to it,”  Edwards said.

She believes that looking to the past can help the community to move forward.

“We want people to have a clear vision of our history, so we all can have a  clear idea of the movement going forward,” Edwards told Fox 16.