“We should practice MLK every day, is everyday should be MLK Day,” said Kori Miller, executive director of The Evansville African American Museum. “And, you know, because he really fought hate with love and nonviolent protest.”
The museum is are not hosting any events of their own but they’re supporting events by the University of Evansville (UE), University of Southern Indiana (USI) and Ivy tech Community College.
Abagail Catania is Assistant Director for diversity initiatives at UE.
“We have changed from MLK Day Celebration, to MLK Day of Service, really focusing on making or focusing on the importance of having a day ‘on’ than to have a ‘day off’ for MLK with his work and his legacy.”
UE has a full schedule of activities that they’re calling a “Day of Service.” New this year is the luncheon, held during the day for the convenience of the students and guests.
“Our luncheon will feature our keynote speaker Dr. Christopher Emdin,” she said. “He is out of the University of Southern California. He is a professor of education, he is absolutely dynamic ….”
They’re also focusing on a less famous but also poignant speech by King —“The Other America” — which you can watch below.
Catania feels that a “day of service” is very important. “We have an MLK Day, and his legacy because of the work that he did,” she said. “So for me, it's really thinking … if we have a day off, what are we doing to commemorate his legacy? How are we commemorating his legacy with a day off? What did he stand for?”
Miller likes the idea of a day of service being adopted.
“It should be a day of service … that speaks to King's unselfishness, and the fact that he was a servant, a great servant leader.”
USI is focusing on education with a luncheon with keynote speaker Keith Beauchamp. He is a producer and writer for “Till,” the story of Emmett Till’s murder from the perspective of his mother.
Pam Hopson is Executive Director of the USI Multicultural Center. She said many of their student’s don’t know the Emmett Till story.
“And this is a form of a way to educate not only our students, but our community,” she said.
“I think it is the expectation of the community that we reside in, that we continue to educate all, whether we're talking about our students, or whether we're talking about our community.”
Miller said he’d like to see the two major universities work together on an event. He’s working to bring an MLK day parade to Evansville, based on the one he saw living in Los Angeles.
“They have an incredible Kingdom Day parade that just includes everybody, and it's phenomenal. … we have a Martin Luther King Boulevard, right right here,” he said, adding a parade could travel right up to the Old National Bank Event Center.
Ivy Tech Community College is hosting an Event on Wednesday, January 18. The Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy (SIMA) is holding a panel discussion on its history.
Miller says even 55 years later, King’s message still resonates.
“He was a great civil rights leader that looked out for all people. And I think that's kind of the biggest takeaway is unity, which is what we're lacking right now in this country.”
Miller said the country is still fighting to judge a person by the “content of their character” instead of the color of their skin.
Local Events
University of Evansville 2023 MLK Event Page
University of Southern Indiana 2023 MLK Day Event
MLK Day Celebration (Ivy tech)
The Dream lives on in our community through S.I.M.A. (Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy). Please join us to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and S.I.M.A. as two dreams collide as one. We will learn the history of S.I.M.A. and take part in a panel discussion. The event is Wednesday, January 18, at Noon in Vectren Auditorium. For more information, contact Wendy Chinn at 812-266-0138 or wchinn2@ivytech.edu.