Around 200 faculty, staff and students gathered Tuesday in Ackerman Grand Ballroom for the Martin Luther King Jr. 39th Memorial Anniversary Celebration luncheon, with Emmy Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard as a guest speaker.
The event was put together by UCLA’s Black Staff and Faculty Association under the theme “It’s Black History ““ It’s American History!” as part of Black History Month.
“We like that there is a month to raise awareness, but we want to remember (Black) history every month and all year long,” said VC Powe, one of the chairs for the committee that organized the event.
The theme of black history as an intrinsic part of U.S. history was present throughout the event in comments, speeches and presentations.
Precious Robinson, the association’s president, put together what she called the “Dream Sequence,” a tribute to King composed of excerpts from his speeches and a photo montage of images from events in black history and U.S. history.
The montage demonstrated how these events are interconnected and part of the nation’s collective heritage.
“(Black History) Month should remain, but celebrating our history should not be limited to February,” said Nastassia Simmons, a fourth-year Afro-American studies student who attended the celebration.
After Robinson’s tribute, Woodard was introduced as an accomplished actor, as well as an activist committed to equality and civil rights.
Woodard delivered a speech that generated applause and laughter, while emphasizing the luncheon’s central idea that black history is an integral part of the history of the American people.
The keynote speaker also touched on the current racial distribution of students at UCLA, which provides a stark contrast to what she saw when she first visited the campus in the 1970s.
“(Now) there are less people (on campus) of every color. You wouldn’t believe you are in California ““ the most diverse spot on Earth,” Woodard said.
Woodard also said she believes that in order to get a truly well-rounded education, students and faculty should emphasize the importance of dialogue and diversity on campus.
The actress went on to analyze current events and the recent history of the U.S., including the events of Sept. 11 and the U.S.’s reaction as both a people and a government.
Woodard mentioned how an exceptional unity developed between different people and races following the terrorist attacks, despite occasional acts of racism and discrimination against Arab Americans.
“When we are not distracted by our differences, we realize very quickly our intertwined history, hopes and aspirations,” said Woodard.
Wrapping up her speech on current politics, Woodard encouraged the audience to combine demonstrations of their patriotism with philanthropic and outreach actions.
“Combine flying your flag with a patriotic act. Martin Luther King was a true patriot.
“Instead of a flag, wrap yourself in his spirit,” she said.