NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ Bernice Johnson Reagon, a renowned scholar and
artist in African-American cultural music and history, will deliver the
keynote address for Vanderbilt University‘s 2005 Martin Luther King
Commemorative Series Jan. 17-27.
All series events are free and open to the public.
This year‘s events, which mark the 20th anniversary of the series,
kick off Monday, Jan. 17, with a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. at
Vanderbilt‘s Benton Chapel sponsored by the Organization of Black
Graduate and Professional Students. The vigil will feature a talk by
Bishop Joseph W. Walker III of Nashville‘s Mt. Zion Baptist Church and
a performance by the university‘s Voices of Praise gospel choir.
Reagon‘s keynote address, “Over My Head I See Freedom in the Air: A
College Student Steps Across the Line of Safety and . . .”, at 6 p.m.
on Wednesday, Jan. 19, highlights the 2005 series theme “Taking A
Stand: Students and Civil Rights” and will explore the important role
students played in the civil rights movement. Reagon‘s talk is preceded
by a 5 p.m. reception. Both the reception and the keynote address will
be held at Vanderbilt‘s Ingram Hall at the Blair School of Music.
Parking for the event is available for $1 in South Garage (formerly
Capers Garage) on Children‘s Way (formerly Capers Avenue).
A singer and composer, Reagon recently retired after 30 years of
performing with Sweet Honey in the Rock, the internationally renowned a
cappella ensemble she founded in 1973. Reagon produced most of the
group‘s recordings including the Grammy-nominated “Still the Same Me.”
She is Cosby Chair Professor of Fine Arts at Spelman College in
Atlanta, Ga., professor emeritus of history at American University and
curator emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution‘s National Museum of
American History in Washington, D.C.
Other events during the series include an exhibit of the Harold Lowe
Civil Rights Photograph Collection Monday, Jan. 17, through Friday,
Feb. 4, at the Schulman Center Gallery at 2421 Vanderbilt Place on the
university campus. The collection of black and white photographs
documents the civil rights movement in Nashville and is courtesy of the
Nashville Public Library‘s special collections division and Nashville
Room. Hours for the exhibit are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
Vanderbilt and Belmont universities have teamed up for a Wednesday,
Jan. 26, event featuring James Forbes Jr., senior minister of The
Riverside Church in New York City. Forbes‘ talk, “Today‘s American and
the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” will be held at 5 p.m. in
the fourth floor boardroom of the Massey Business Center on the Belmont
University campus. Forbes is the first African American to serve as
senior minister of The Riverside Church, one of the nation‘s largest
multicultural congregations. In national and international religious
circles, he is known as the “preacher‘s preacher” because of his
extensive career and charismatic style. Newsweek magazine recognized
Forbes as one of the 12 “most effective preachers” in the
English-speaking world and Ebony magazine designated him one of
America‘s greatest black preachers.
Since its start in 1985, several noted public figures have
participated in the series including Attallah Shabazz, daughter of
Malcolm X; Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.;
Andrew Young, noted civil rights activist, former Atlanta mayor and
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; NAACP chairman Julian Bond; and
noted scholar and public intellectual Cornel West.
For a complete listing of events scheduled for the 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series at Vanderbilt, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/mlk/.
Schedule of Events
Taking a Stand: Students and Civil Rights
Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series ñ celebrating 20 years
Vanderbilt University
January 17- 27, 2005
All events are free and open to the public.
For more information and updates, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/mlk/.
Monday, Jan. 17-Monday, Jan. 31
Celebrating 20 Years ñ Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series Poster Exhibition
The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, Vanderbilt University
An exhibition of posters marking each year of the series‘ 20-year history.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Monday, Jan. 17- Friday, Feb. 4
Harold Lowe Civil Rights Photograph Collection
Schulman Center Gallery, 2421 Vanderbilt Place
A collection of powerful black and white photographs documenting the
civil rights movement in Nashville. Exhibit courtesy of the Nashville
Public Library special collections division, The Nashville Room
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 17
Remembering a King ñ Candlelight Vigil
7 p.m., Benton Chapel, 4444 21st Ave. S.
Sponsored by the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional
Students, the vigil will feature a talk by Bishop Joseph W. Walker III
of Nashville‘s Mt. Zion Baptist Church and a performance by
Vanderbilt‘s Voices of Praise gospel choir.
Free parking: Wesley Place Garage, spaces 52-170. Garage located at 21st Avenue South and Scarritt Place.
Tuesday, Jan. 18
The Majesty of Dissent ñ Honoring Dr. King and the Magnificence of Freedom
1 p.m., Averbuch Auditorium, Owen Graduate School of Management
Pay
Parking: $1 per half hour ñ pay up front, Terrace Place Garage, spaces
1-92 except those marked reserved. Garage located on Terrace Place off
of 21st Avenue South near Goten Restaurant.
Judicial Independence and Individual Independence
3:30 p.m., Flynn Auditorium, Vanderbilt Law School
Judge Myron Thompson, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
Pay
Parking: $1 per half hour ñ pay up front, Terrace Place Garage, spaces
1-92 except those marked reserved. Garage located on Terrace Place off
of 21st Avenue South near Goten Restaurant.
Wednesday, Jan. 19
Keynote Address ñ “Over My Head I See Freedom in the Air: A College Student Steps Across the Line of Safety and . . .”
Bernice Johnson Reagon, Scholar, Composer, Singer & Activist; Introduction by Hazel R. O‘Leary, President, Fisk University
6 p.m., Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music ñ Keynote Event
A singer and composer, Reagon has been honored as a scholar and
artist in African- American cultural history and music. She recently
retired after 30 years of performing with Sweet Honey in the Rock, the
internationally renowned a cappella ensemble she founded in 1973.
Reagon produced most of the group‘s recordings including the
Grammy-nominated Still the Same Me. She is the Cosby Chair Professor of
Fine Arts at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., professor emeritus of
history at American University and curator emeritus at the Smithsonian
Institution‘s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Come early for a reception at 5 p.m. in the Ingram Hall lobby preceding
the keynote address.
Pay parking: $1 in South Garage (formerly Capers Garage) on Children‘s Way (formerly Capers Avenue).
Thursday, Jan. 20
Race, Space and Scientific Education: Some Thoughts on the Political Economy of Urban Schooling
12:30 p.m., Wyatt Center Rotunda, Peabody College
William Tate, professor and chair of the Department of Education at
Washington University in St. Louis, will give a talk at Peabody‘s
annual Changing Lives Award ceremony recognizing exceptional community
service.
Reception to follow.
Improving the Lives of Low-Income Parents and Children with Prenatal and Infancy Home Visits by Nurses
4 p.m., Room 241, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center/MRL Building
David Olds, professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and preventative medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Monday, Jan. 24
A Walk With Martin
5 to 8 p.m., Sarratt Promenade and Sarratt Cinema
An exhibit highlighting the life of Martin Luther King Jr., this
experience will bring to life the accomplishments and triumphs of a
great individual. Through excerpts, photographs and film, witness one
of America‘s most influential people who changed our society and
culture. Sponsored by Vanderbilt University‘s Kappa Theta Chapter of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Wednesday, Jan. 26
Today‘s America and the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. James Forbes Jr., Senior Minister, The Riverside Church, New York
5 p.m., 4th floor boardroom, Massey Business Center, Belmont University
Forbes is the first African American to serve as senior minister of
The Riverside Church, one of the nation‘s largest multicultural
congregations. In national and international religious circles, he is
known as the “preacher‘s preacher” because of his extensive career and
charismatic style. Newsweek magazine recognized Forbes as one of the 12
“most effective preachers” in the English-speaking world and Ebony
magazine designated him one of America‘s greatest black preachers.
Forbes is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches and the
Original United Holy Church of America. Built by John D.
Rockefeller Jr. in 1927, the interdenominational, interracial and
international Riverside Church has about 2,400 members.
Thursday, Jan. 27
Dr. James Forbes, Jr., Minister, The Riverside Church, New York
Conversation with Students and Faculty
noon, Tillett Lounge, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Brown bag luncheon
Pay
parking: $1 per half hour ñ pay up front, Wesley Place Garage, spaces
52-170. Garage located at 21st Avenue South and Scarritt Place.
Media contact: Princine Lewis, (615) 322-NEWS
Princince.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu