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“A Tribute to the Dream,” an annual event commemorating the life and work of King, was held on Northeastern’s Boston campus and streamed live to the university’s 13 global campuses.
The Northeastern community celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Thursday by recognizing civil rights symbols like “The Embrace” on Boston Common, civil rights struggles, and civil rights leaders like the university’s own Charlotte M. Nelson.
“I think the importance of love is critical in this moment,” said special guest Imari K. Paris Jeffries, president and CEO of Embrace Boston, the community organization behind The Embrace monument to King and Coretta Scott King on Boston Common.
“These rituals — gathering, celebrating the King holiday — are important,” he said. “Celebrating the uplifting heroes who have done the work to build belonging is important; and so I’m proud to be here and be proud to be a part of this university to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, celebrate the legacy of Ms. Nelson, to continue to embody the most extreme expression of positive emotion in love.”
“A Tribute to the Dream,” an annual event commemorating the life, work and legacy of King, was held at East Village on Northeastern’s Boston campus and streamed live to the university’s 13 global campuses.
“The exchange today can be summarized in one term — radical inclusion,” Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun said to applause. “That’s what we need to do moving forward — radical Inclusion. Let’s work on it altogether.”
The ceremony was all about togetherness. It was not only a tribute to King, but also a way for the university to honor students, faculty, staff and graduates of color who are continuing King’s work today.
“His beliefs sit within my spirit,” said emcee Gregory Hollis, a graduate student studying to become a physician assistant. “I’m very honored to be here and celebrate the vision and the dream of Martin Luther King.”
The event was bookended with performances by pianist Shaleeca Joseph, a senior at Boston’s John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, who immigrated from Haiti in 2012 and plans to study nursing.
The ethereal music then transitioned into a discussion with Jeffries led by Richard Harris, Northeastern’s associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, and diversity programs director of the university’s programs in multicultural engineering.
Harris and Jeffries discussed the evolution of The Embrace — from its genesis as an idea during the administration of former Mayor Thomas Menino to honor King in Boston to realizations that Scott King and other local civil rights leaders should be included.
Jeffries also noted how the The Embrace’s message evolved during the pandemic into “a monument for all of us,” “the most accessible monument in the country,” and as a symbol of the Embrace Boston organization’s idea of “radical inclusivity.”
“The Embrace is a promissory ring,” Jeffries said. “It’s a commitment to continue to stretch ourselves. To be open-minded around other communities, new ideas, and how we embrace people who disagree with us as well as how we embrace people who agree with us.”
And part of that commitment to a more harmonious future that the monument represents is embodied by the Northeastern community.
“Every year, Martin Luther King Day is more of a reflection — a reflection on how far I’ve come, what kind of obstacles have I had to overcome to get to where I am now,” said Martin Luther King Fellow and mechanical engineering graduate student Isaiah Simpson in a video played during the event. “Then also I take it as a chance to kind of look forward. And how do I want to improve the field I’m in so that kids who grew up like me can have it better than I did?”
Indeed, the idea of making things better for those who follow segued into a recognition award for meritorious service to Charlotte M. Nelson.
Nelson — a Northeastern graduate and 45-year employee of the university — was introduced by undergraduate student Jaela Eaton as “a fierce leader and advocate of civil rights,” who led “a life of community service, organizing, activism and standing up to injustice.”
Nelson was ushered to the stage with a standing ovation and said she was “humbled” by the citation dedicated to her and read aloud by James R. Hackney, dean of the Northeastern School of Law.
“I hope that it’s an example, especially to the other people in the room, of how you can do this if you have a heart and a soul and a mind of service,” Nelson said. “Thank you.”