MLK Celebration Confronts Stereotypes of Race, Culture
Confrontation of stereotypes and attitudes shaped by race and
culture is a recurring theme running through the Alma College week-long
commemoration of the legacy of Martin Luther King. Jr. The week begins
Jan. 15 with chapel service at 7 p.m. in Dunning Memorial Chapel. All events are free and open to the public.
Confronting Our Ghosts: Jim Crow and Civil Rights
Susan Morris, professor of humanities at Ferris State University,
presents examples from the Jim Crowe Museum of Racist Memorabilia that
illustrate the ways cultural messages shape racial beliefs. The museum
housed at FSU uses items of intolerance to teach tolerance and examines
the historical patterns of race relations and the origins and
consequences of racist depictions. Morris will be introduced by Antuan Davis-Featherstone '09.
Participants in the Monday presentation qualify for a visit Friday to the museum. Students, faculty and staff must attend the Monday presentation and reserve a seat on the bus trip limited to 47 participants. The tour through the Museum is guided by the museum staff, who are trained to help viewers deconstruct the racist images that they see, and help frame discussions about the continuities and discontinuities between the representations of race before and after the Civil Rights Movement.
Jan. 16, 3 and 4:30 p.m., Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center, Jones Auditorium
Albatross Simulation
Alma senior Kim Graor leads a cross-cultural simulation called Albatross designed to help demonstrate how cultural values impact how we view and judge others. Hosted by the College's Service Learning House, there will be several sessions, each session lasting 45 minutes and including facilitated discussions after the exercises.
Jan. 16, 7 p.m., Clack Art Center, Auditorium
Poetry Slam
A poetry slam celebrates the power of the word in the struggle for peace, social justice and tolerance. Sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force and the College's Multicultural Black Student Union organization, the evening begins with Antuan Davis-Featherstone '09 delivering a dramatic reading of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, then opens to student and faculty performances/readings of original and published works that celebrate civil rights and the ideals of love, peace, tolerance, and social justice that are part of the legacy of Dr. King. The evening ends on open mike with audience members encouraged to read poetry or prose.
Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Stone Recreation Center
Blood Drive
Service to the community includes a Red Cross blood drive on campus.
Jan. 19, 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church
Community Cafe
Gamma Phi Beta members volunteer at the First Presbyterian Church Community Cafe preparing and serving meals.
Jan. 19, 8 p.m., Dunning Memorial Chapel, Kirk Center
African American History Display Project
Momentous events of African American history are displayed in the Chapel basement.
Throughout the week radio station WQAC and the Library host the annual Film and Speech Series. The library schedules a video each afternoon through Thursday, as well as videos throughout the day as time permits. The film series features documentaries like "Eyes on the Prize" and other films that address the struggle for civil rights. WQAC airs selected speeches from Dr. King throughout the week with each speech prefaced by recorded introductions that place the speech in context. Selections include the landmark speeches "I Have a Dream," "Beyond Vietnam," "Where do we go from Here?" and "I've Been to the Mountaintop." Posters depicting African American heroes adorn the walls of College buildings during the week.
Civil Rights Films at the Library
These important civil rights films are free and open to the public. Films will be shown in the Anderson Reading Area on the main floor of the Library.
Monday, January 16, 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Eyes on the Prize: America at the racial crossroads
"Part 1: The time has come, 1964-1966" (60 minutes)
"Part 2: Two societies, 1965-1968" (60 minutes)
Tuesday, January 17, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Eyes on the Prize: America at the racial crossroads
"Part 3: Power! 1967-1968" (60 minutes)
"Part 4: The promised land, 1967-1968" (60 minutes)
"Part 5: Ain't gonna shuffle no more, 1964-1972" (60 minutes)
Wednesday, January 18, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Eyes on the Prize: America at the racial crossroads
"Part 6: A nation of law? 1968-1971" (60 minutes)
"Part 7: The keys to the kingdom, 1974-1980" (60 minutes)
"Part 8: Back to the movement, 1979-mid 1980s" (60 minutes)
Thursday, January 19, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
"Part 2: Fighting back, 1896 – 1917" (56 minutes)
"Part 3: Don’t shout too soon, 1917 – 1940" (56 minutes)
"Part 4: Terror and triumph, 1940 – 1954" (56 minutes)
Friday, January 20, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Every Mother’s Son (52 minutes)
The story of three mothers fighting for justice for their sons, who
were slain by police. The victims' stories are tragic, and the courage
subsequently shown by their mothers, heroic.
Caught in Between: what to call home in times of war (25 minutes)
This film documents Japanese American communities revisiting the time
period of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
It compares that time period to the time period post-9/11 "War on
Terrorism," when Muslims were detained and many immigrants were
deported.
A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King
In honor of the King holiday, recordings of Dr. King’s major speeches will be aired every day on WQAC (90.9 FM) at 9 p.m. Each speech will be prefaced with recorded introductions that place the speech in context.
Monday, January 16, 9 p.m.
"Address at the Freedom Hall Rally inn Cobo Hall" (40 minutes, with
introduction written by Aretha and Erma Franklin, read by Yolanda King)
"I Have a Dream" (23 minutes, with introduction by Dorothy I. Height)
Tuesday, January 17, 9 p.m.
"Give us the Ballot" (30 minutes, with introduction by Walter E. Fauntroy)
"Acceptance Address for the Nobel Peace Prize" (16 minutes, with introduction by the Dalai Lama, read by Martin Luther King III)
Wednesday, January 18, 9 p.m.
"Beyond Vietnam" (63 minutes, with introduction by George McGovern)
Thursday, January 19, 9 p.m.
"Where Do We Go From Here?" (72 minutes with introduction by Edward Kennedy)
Friday, January 20, 9 p.m.
"I've Been to the Mountaintop" (55 minutes, with introduction by Andrew Young)
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Posted: Wed, January 11th, 2006 at 11:03AM
