By Naomi Gish and Hadassah Winters
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“I watched Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech when I was in elementary school,” Studium Generale speaker Jarod Grant remembered, “I went home and took a nap after school that day, because I wanted to have some dreams like Dr. King.”
Sharing his dream in an informative and insightful speech on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Jarod Grant, director of the Diversity and Equity Center at Everett Community College, addressed racism and discrimination in the world today. Raising his voice into song, “I have a dream that one day we’re gonna work it out, my dream is to be free.”
He wanted to humanize Dr. King, emphasizing his flaws and successes in order to demonstrate that perfection is not necessary to make a difference.
Stressing that we all have our voices and need to use them, Grant challenged the audience to challenge themselves to stand up for their beliefs and stand up for what is right. Mentioning that black lives matter too, Grant addressed the current issue, placing emphasis on inclusion and togetherness.
“We all have our voices,” Grant said, “Use your voice! If it weren’t for the high school and college students who rose up and supported him, we may not have even known Brother Martin’s name.”
“We can become frightened and melancholy about current events,” Kate Reavey said in her introduction to Studium Generale on Thursday, January 21st. “We need to come to events like this so we can connect with our fellow students.”
