Office for Culture and Belonging and the Diversity Council host Martin Luther King Jr. Day events
A look at Bethel's efforts in upholding the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“I have a dream, that one day my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
This world-famous quote was given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963. Roughly three and a half years before that day, Dr. King was traveling to different locations to express “The Future of Integration.” One of those locations was Memorial Hall, located on the campus of Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.
Bethel College is honored to have this moment be a part of its history and celebrates this occasion every year with various events around campus. This year there were two different events held for this day: a lecture in Krehbiel Auditorium, and a movie night held in the Haury Hall Lounge. The lecture in the auditorium was entitled “A Different Side of ‘The Dream’” by Larry Lee, a Newton Community Leader.
Diversity Council Co-President Dulce Erazo-Tejada, a senior from Newton, shared that this lecture “was a wonderful way to celebrate this day.”
The movie night was an event put on by the Bethel College Diversity Council. At this event, they provided snacks such as popcorn, soda, and McDonald’s, while students enjoyed the movie Our Friend Martin.
This movie tells the story of two teens who travel back in time to meet Martin Luther King, at several iconic points in his life. Mija Carlson, a senior from Council Grove, shared that her favorite part of the night was “hanging with friends, enjoying some snacks, as well as an entertaining movie.”
Erazo-Tejada mentioned that through Diversity Council, “students can obtain new friends and new knowledge of cultures, diversity, and inclusivity.”
She wanted to inform people that Divco will be hosting the Black Excellence Celebration on Friday, February 21st, at 7:30. Students can expect to see flyers around campus, social media posts, and emails sent with more information.
“If you can’t fly, Then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
- Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the lecture in Krehbiel Auditorium was hosted by DivCo. It was actually hosted by the Office of Culture and Belonging