A Message for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
As we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 16, we pause to honor and celebrate his legacy and words, which inspire us to dream. Drawing inspiration from the Hebrew scriptures, Christian Gospel and the non-violent philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi,聽Dr. King fearlessly proclaimed the value, dignity and worth of each person as he advocated for civil rights for people of color.
From Dr. King鈥檚 1963聽I Have a Dream听蝉辫别别肠丑:
鈥淚 have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 鈥榃e hold these truths to be self鈥恊vident, that all [persons] are created equal.鈥� 鈥�
鈥淚 have a dream that one day, 鈥� little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.鈥�
鈥淲ith this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together 鈥� to stand up for freedom together.鈥�
What is your dream for 2023? Many of us dream of a world that鈥檚 free of racism, bigotry, prejudice, homophobia and xenophobia. We want to be part of a vibrant, engaging community where everyone feels they belong and are appreciated for who they are.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in collaboration with other campus offices, will host several events to advance his dream. On Wednesday, Feb. 1 Linda Villarosa, will speak on the intersections of race and health inequities. Her book,聽Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of the Nation,聽was on the聽聽list.聽On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Dr. Robert Simmons, head of social impact聽for the聽Micron Foundation, will give the keynote at Le Moyne’s annual聽MLK convocation. He will share how his Jesuit education challenged his sense of hope, and how his father鈥檚 incarceration inspired his commitment to social justice.
In 2023, let us inspire each other and continue being more intentional in forming an inclusive and empathetic campus. Let us draw inspiration from Dr. King鈥檚 dream as together we foster a welcoming, friendly and joyful community.
Sincerely,
Linda M. LeMura, Ph.D.
President
Rev. Charles Oduke, Ph.D.
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
