Saint Louis University Honors Civil Rights
Leaders at Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute
celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during its fifth annual memorial tribute on Tuesday, Jan. 12. It was the largest MLK tribute in University history, with 501 guests in attendance.
The event was sponsored by SLU ' s Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Jonathan C. Smith, Ph. D., special assistant to the president for Diversity and Community Engagement, introduced the event ' s master of ceremonies Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League.
Christopher Collins, S. J., assistant to the president for Mission and Identity, then gave the invocation, and University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph. D., welcomed the crowd.
" It is fundamental to our Jesuit mission and values that we be co-workers with God on the issues of poverty, education, economic empowerment and racial equality," Pestello said. " Our Jesuit values have guided our faculty, students and staff, of whom I am so proud, to pursue hundreds of programs in the neighborhood ' s most disadvantaged communities.... We will continue to provide that course, with hope and trust in God and our own humanity, just as Dr. King would ' ve expected."
Civil rights leader Diane Nash, who participated in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. King, gave the keynote address. She spoke about struggling for a term for the movement ' s philosophy that was more encompassing than " nonviolence," as their approach was about more than merely the absence of violence. She eventually coined the term " agapic energy:" using energy produced by " agape " or love, instead of
energy produced by violence." I have not said that using agapic energy would be easy," Nash said. " It was not. It is not. In the 1960s, we did not know if agapic energy would work. Now we know it does."
Nash discussed how the movement was larger than any one person, and how they kept going despite fear because they knew the hardships they faced would create a better world for generations to come. She urged everyone in attendance to continue that legacy and to " keep the dream alive." " We need to realize that there is no one to solve problems but you and me," she said. " It was not Martin Luther King ' s movement; it was a people ' s movement." Nash received the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Civil Rights Leader Award.
As a surprise gesture of thanks, Smith presented Rita McMillan with a 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Special Award of acknowledgment of and gratitude for her creation and ongoing support of the program.
The event concluded with final remarks from Smith and a benediction given by Collins.