North Central College celebrates Rev. King
Tanya Egler says she sees the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream come alive every week.
When she stands before her Wheaton College Gospel Choir, Egler says she sees 60 men and women from different backgrounds melding their voices to create a powerful and joyous sound. She sees students using their high-energy music to inspire others.
“We all play together and sing together in the spirit of unity and worship,” said Egler, who directs the group.
She considers her group a tight-knit family and hopes members’ voices will encourage others to come together Saturday, Jan. 22, for North Central College’s 23rd annual Gospel Extravaganza.
The event culminates the college’s weeklong celebration that includes a Monday prayer breakfast with alum Brian Lee and a Tuesday presentation by director and activist Spike Lee.
Spike Lee, who is famous for tackling controversial topics about race and other issues, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, in the college’s Wentz Concert Hall.
He has produced films such as “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Do the Right Thing,” which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1989. He also directed Michael Jordan in Nike’s Air Jordan campaign and worked on campaigns for Taco Bell and Converse.
Spike Lee’s latest film “Miracle at St. Anna” focused on four black soldiers in World War II who were trapped in an Italian village.
The idea to devote a week to celebrating King’s legacy stems from the activist’s visit to North Central College in 1960. King stepped on the campus that year to encourage others to join the civil rights movement.
His message resonated with current North Central President Hal Wilde, who wrote his undergraduate thesis on King.
Wilde said the celebration allows the community to reflect on one of America’s greatest challenges: racial divisions.
“We are honoring the King legacy in the best possible way,” Wilde said. “We are making it a learning experience for our campus community and the wider community.”
The celebration began Saturday with a classical performance from the Chicago Sinfonietta, dubbed the “nation’s most diverse orchestra.”
“Artistically, we try to select a repertoire of music that reflects the cornerstones of (King’s) beliefs and his ethical approach to life,” said Jim Hirsch, executive director for the sinfonietta. “We look for pieces of music that showcase overcoming adversity and showcase a man’s quest for social justice and happiness.”
Whether it’s in song, film or prayer, King’s messages on education and unity will be widespread across the downtown Naperville campus. The week’s events allow people to stop and reflect on the peaceful solutions King sought, Wilde said.
And with the increasing amount of diversity in the county and nation, Wilde knows King’s message will continue to touch future generations.
For more information, visit NorthCentralCollege.edu.
If you go
Some highlights of North Central Colleges the Rev. Martin Luther King Week celebration:
Prayer Breakfast
When: 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17
Where: Harold and Eva White Activities Center, 325 E. Benton St., Naperville
Cost: Free
An Evening with Spike Lee
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18
Where: Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Cost: $20; free for North Central College students
23rd annual Gospel Extravaganza
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22
Where: Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton St., Naperville
Cost: $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and students