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In This Issue:
On January 25, members of the BWH community welcomed one of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former students and one of today’s most influential civil rights leaders - Julian Bond. Bond was the featured speaker at Partners “A Celebration of the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” event, held in the Cabot Atrium.
Currently serving as chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Bond boasts a long and distinguished history as a writer, scholar, legislator and educator. He has spent more than 20 years representing the people of Georgia in the state’s General Assembly, serves as president emeritus of the Southern Poverty Law Center and is an honored faculty member both at the American University in Washington, D.C. and at the University of Virginia.
But it was not his long list of accolades that won the audience’s attention or fueled their enthusiasm. It was Bond’s engaging presence and ability to connect to each member of the crowd that resulted in such a powerful performance.
In his speech, Bond drew from his own personal experiences – including his childhood as the grandson of a Kentucky slave – to comment upon the changing face of the civil rights landscape in the U.S., including present-day issues in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. “While we might close ranks as a nation, we cannot give up the right to dissent,” he reminded the audience. “America is strongest when she is just.”
Bond’s message was complemented by the talents of BWH staff member, Vivian Cooley-Collier, who led the audience in song and reflection at the beginning of the presentation.