The excitement and impact of an election year propelled an inspiring celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life at NCC on January 26 at the College's Lipkin Theatre. In words, images, and music, the unwavering determination of Dr. King reminded the audience of the long struggle of African Americans and women to obtain political rights.
The evening opened with the exquisite harmony and heart-stirring energy of the Holmes Family Singers as they sang a gospel rendition of the national anthem. Other pieces, throughout the program, had people clapping and moving in their seats.
A jazz quartet of Allan Hayes on bass, Joe Guerra on guitar, Peter Omelio on drums, and Glenn Merritt on piano framed the program with sets of varied tempos and tunes.
The sweeping, soaring movements of the Monarch Dance Company expressed aspiration, yearning and hope.
NCC students Catherine Sargeant and Nicolas Wolf (left) read their poems, which won this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Prose and Poetry Contest. (To read their poems, go to "Winners of Martin Luther King, Jr. Prose and Poetry Contest Announced" in past news in Northampton NOW, NCC's online news site.)
Historical context was provided by the NCC Theatre News Team (pictured above), who dramatized the history of American voting, from its simple roots in England to the Whigs and Democrats of the 1840s to Civil Rights marches imperiled by oppositional violence to the signing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
Keynote speaker Michelle Drame, director of corporate and community relations at East Stroudsburg University, related the long, arduous struggle of African Americans and their allies to gain unimpeded access to voting and for women to obtain voting rights. She spoke of Dr. Martin Luther King, saying that
" Once in a very great while, an extraordinary person rends the fabric of racism and injustice and unfairness. He was a great visionary and American hero. " Drame narrated the slow progress toward political representation, as more African Americans won elected seats and now an African American contends for the highest office.
Drame closed her speech by urging listeners to "Vote the Dream!" A cascade of balloons and confetti, reminiscent of a political convention, surprised the audience and emphasized that message.
The NCC Annual Celebration of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was coordinated by the NCC Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, chaired by Advising/Career Link specialist Marcia Theadford.
