Candlelight
vigil observes struggles in society are not over
 |
REMEMBERING:
USU students and friends
hold lighted candles in memory of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. / Photo by Jared Ocana |
By Megan Roe
January 20, 2005 | Social change must occur to fulfill
Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to erase racism,
poverty and violence, keynote speaker Darron Smith said
at a candlelight vigil held in King's honor in
the Taggart Student Center Sunburst Lounge Tuesday night.
"Until all Americans have three square meals
a day and jobs provided with equal pay for equal service,
this particular commemoration is nothing more than an
observance," Smith said. "It needs to be
a new beginning. It needs to be a jump-start for deep
reflection about Dr. King's dreams.
Smith, a doctoral student and University of Utah, adjunct
faculty member at Brigham Young University and author
of "Black and Mormon," said anti-racist
white people need to educate other whites about the
challenges that black people face in American society.
"It is imperative that social and civil rights
reform begin with all Americans, white people in particular,"
Smith said. "Until white people become outraged
about racism and equal causes, social change will remain
elusive.
Three other men spoke at the vigil. Mike Addo, a graduate
student at USU, Gabe Carter, the ASUSU Campus Diversity
vice president, and Moises Diaz, the Director of the
Multicultural Student Services at USU all spoke on the
importance of King's vision. After Smith's
talk, the audience lit white candles while watching
a slideshow presentation featuring King's famous
"I Have a Dream" speech.
Candace Mayweather, a senior majoring in liberal arts,
agreed with Smith. She said King made it possible for
minorities to have opportunities, but his work needs
to continue on.
"We need to keep educating people and letting
them know that the struggle isn't over, that it's
really just beginning," Mayweather said. "We've
come along way, but there are still tons of things that
could be changed for the better.
Smith said many white Americans are colorblind racists,
they don't understand why circumstances must improve
for blacks. He said white people don't see racism
because they are the beneficiaries of it.
"In order for America to be the nation it could
be, we must continue to push for change. The dream is
not yet fulfilled," Smith said. "I call
on all civil-minded and civil-rights oriented individuals
to rise up to this occasion.
MS
DN
|
