North Central College honors King's legacy

As the inauguration of the first black president nears, roughly 250 people gathered Monday morning at North Central College to honor the man who paved the way.

Students, staff and area dignitaries attended the college's 14th annual prayer breakfast honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The Civil Rights leader would have turned 80 this year.

"The hands on the clock of justice embedded in the DNA of America at our birth finally, finally proclaimed the arrival of the first African-American president," North Central President Hal Wilde said. "So much yet to do to perfect our union ... but this day 80 years after his birth I cannot imagine a better birthday present for the man whose life and witness we celebrate."

Tashona Marshall, a 2002 graduate, gave the keynote speech, "Extraordinary Leaders for Extraordinary Times." Marshall is a licensed minister and principal of Johnson Elementary School of the Arts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

She challenged the group to find their own ways to make a difference.

"To remember Dr. King is not to stop at his speech, at 'I Have a Dream,' it is to recognize, it is to be committed to, that the dream must be a reality and it's up to each of us to play our part in that reality," she said.

North Central has several ties to King. In 1960, he spoke to students in Pfeiffer Hall and 40 students participated in the 1965 march in Selma, Ala.

The college has planned several events honoring King and his legacy this week. Viewing of the presidential inauguration begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, followed by a panel discussion at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St.

Later in the week movie director Justin Dillon discusses issues of modern-day slavery at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Meiley-Swallow Hall followed by a showing of his film, "Call and Response," at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in the same location. On Saturday, there will be a poetry slam and open mic night at 8 p.m. at the Union.

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