Under the baobab: Penn State community joins to show ‘The Movement Continues’ on MLK Day
Congratulations to Earl Merritt on receiving the Humanitarian Award at the 49th annual MLK Memorial Banquet last Monday. Earl is the College of Liberal Arts’ director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity. The Forum of Black Affairs (FOBA), a primary sponsor of the banquet, annually honors an individual who has provided outstanding service to African American citizens of Pennsylvania, particularly in communities around Penn State’s campuses.
As he received the award from last year’s recipient, Leslie Laing, Merritt said:
“I’m truly honored, humbled and appreciative of this recognition ... it’s always been about making a difference in the lives of others. I think of Shirley Chisholm’s words when she says, ‘Service is the repayment for the privilege of living on this planet.’ I use that as a frame of reference. What drives me is the souls of students that I have had the opportunity to engage, not only at Penn State but before I came to Penn State.”
The theme of this year’s gathering was “The Movement Continues: Embracing MLK’s Dream of a Better World for All.” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi gave a keynote address that focused on the purpose of higher education “to leverage the transformative power of higher education to improve the lives of our students, their families, and our communities.” Nearly 1,000 people attended the sold-out banquet.
Though inclement weather interrupted several planned events, tributes to King extended to a concert at Eisenhower Auditorium on Saturday that featured choral music from African and African American musical idioms that emphasize the legacy and influence of the late champion of civil and human rights. The program featured the Howard University Gospel Choir, Penn State’s Essence of Joy, Essence II and State College Area High School.
Congrats are also due to the Penn State men’s basketball team for their upset win over 11th ranked Wisconsin. Led by super guards Kanye Clary and Ace Baldwin, this was PSU’s first win over an AP top 25 program since Coach Mike Rhoades took over the program.
The Lady Lions continued their winning ways. Led by graduate guards Tay Valladay and Ashley Owusu, who combined for 41 points, the Penn State women’s basketball team returned to .500 in Big Ten play with an 80-67 win over the Purdue Boilermakers. Valladay, a native of Chicago, Illinois, booked her seventh-straight game in double figures and her second 20-point game since transferring to Penn State. Owusu made her BJC debut. She connected on seven field goal attempts and finished with her season high 19 points. PSU improved to 12-5 overall on the season. Before the game the team celebrated the program’s 1,000th all-time win.
The Penn State wrestling dynasty continued unbeaten, untied and totally dominant in the NCAA with a 27-9 victory over No. 11 ranked Michigan. The Bryce Jordan Center has been selected to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, with Penn State serving as the local organizing committee.
Sisters and brothers, I believe that 2024 will be a transformative year. The world is suffering through unresolved wars in the middle east, Africa and Europe. And, of course, this is a presidential election year, which will “test whether this nation or any nation so conceived, so dedicated, can long endure.”
As an elder I can witness that we have endured through similar difficulties: the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the taking of American hostages, the dismantling of racial and gender discrimination, the assassination of a president and the disgraceful resignation of another, the senseless murders of countless leaders. Yet touched by the caress of providence, the past struggle of righteous ancestors and the audacious hope of our young people, we the people, have survived and thrived. I am hopeful that we shall again. Ubuntu.
Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lion’s Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
