College to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with speaker, other events

Publication Date

Dr. Jeanne D. Nutter will discuss "A Separate Place: Documenting African

Dr. Nutter

American History," Monday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. in the Nott Memorial as part of the College's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The talk is free and open to the public. A reception begins at 4:30 p.m.

Nutter has 22 years of experience in education, training and administration, with a focus on multicultural issues. A professor of communication at Bloomfield (N.J.) College, she is the publisher of two books, Growing Up Black in New Castle County and Black America Series: Delaware.

Nutter was also the executive producer of the acclaimed documentary film, "A Separate Place: The Schools P.S. duPont Built," about the ambiguous legacy of segregation, and ultimate desegregation in 1967 of Delaware’s public school system.

The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Nutter was inducted into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, the Delaware State Education Association presented Nutter with its Humanities and Civil Rights Award.

Also on Monday, faculty, staff and students are invited to watch Union's own version of King's iconic 17-minute "I Have a Dream Speech" delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Aug. 28, 1963. The speech, in which King called for racial equality and an end to discrimination, was a defining moment in the Civil Rights movement. Last year, the campus community read lines from the speech in the Nott Memorial, and a DVD of the production will air continuously from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of Upper Class Dining.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Reamer Auditorium will air President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Black Student Union will host a discussion from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Unity Room (Reamer 304) on the relevance of King's speech today.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 6 to 7 p.m., the Multi-faith forum will host a lecture in Green House by Melinda Lawson, senior lecturer in history, “Role of Religious Organizations during the Civil Rights Movement."

The celebration of King also includes the Student Volunteer Committee making crafts with residents at Baptist Health nursing home in Scotia. To volunteer, sign up at Reamer or email volunteer@union.edu.

Also on Saturday, members of Lambda Phi Chi sorority will prepare a meal at City Mission.

The King events are sponsored by Campus Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Office of the President, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Lamba Phi Chi, Student Volunteer Committee, Black Student Union, Multi-faith Forum, Green House, History Department and Kenney Community Center.