MLK Holiday Tribute
Singing King's Message in keynotes
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Performances throughout the event included the Latino Arts Strings Program of Milwaukee, the Gospel Music According to
Chicago Mass Choir and the Madison Youth Choir. Additionally, James C. Wright Middle School eight-grader Lexus Carter-
Anderson enthusiastically delivered an excerpt of King’s popular “I Have a Dream” speech.

However, the ceremony climaxed at the insightful words of keynote speaker Sherrilyn Ifill, a professor at the University of
Maryland School of Law and a former assistant counsel for the NAACP.

“In the moments where [King] could have stopped and basked in his accomplishments,” Ifill said attesting to King’s
persistence, “he instead chose to look to the next horizon challenging himself and those around him to take up the fight
everyday anew.”

In her stirring speech, Ifill noted that King’s response to current issues, although often inappropriately appropriated, isn’t
available.

“Of course we could never really know [his reaction],” said Ifill. “But we have some clues and it would be an insult to the 12 hard
years of extraordinary work that constitutes Dr. King's legacy to this country to pretend that we don't know what he stood for.”

Ifill cited King’s work such as his “Beyond Vietnam” speech to indicate his likely opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
She also reminded audience members of King’s work against employment injustices and his actions towards the 1965 Voting
Rights Acts to address poverty.

With these examples, Ifill suggested King’s potential position on current issues such as high unemployment figures for African-
American men and the voter ID bill. Her interpretations were met with audience applause.  

The holiday continued that evening with Madison’s Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition hosting their 27th annual celebration at the
Overture Center’s Capitol Theater in commemoration of King’s legacy.

The ceremony, titled “Democracy Undone: Reclaiming Our Civil Rights,” echoed the style of a Baptist church’s Sunday service.
From the beginning the on-stage choir uplifted audience spirits and bodies from their seats while swaying to spirited songs.
The call-and-response litany of the “Re-Dedication” was also reminiscent of the format of the Apostle’s Creed. Yet, most
notable in the Baptist-style celebration was the delivery and passion of the keynote speaker, Reverend C.T. Vivian.

The 87-year-old Baptist minister spoke with the maturity of addressing audiences in 42 states, 10 countries and multiple
campuses nationwide. Vivian’s content was also rooted in his experience working alongside King on his executive staff in
Birmingham, Selma, Chicago and Nashville as well as instances of direct involvement in marches and sit-ins.  

Consequentially, Vivian’s engaging speech about King carried personal stories, his own interpretations of King’s actions and
the light-hearted humor of Vivian’s personality.
 
“Martin became the conscious of our nation,” said Vivian who considered King’s works to be beyond leading a civil rights
movement, but also a “moral and spiritual movement.”

Vivian’s moments of reverence to King included a list of his accomplishments and a breakdown of his widespread impact. At
times during his speech Vivian held a storm in his lungs with his weathered voice expressing thunderous statements.

“Every one of us are different because Martin King lived,” said Vivian. ”Because you had to act or react to him, right? And in your
reaction to him, you were changed. In your action because of him, you were changed. America is totally different and we had to
be totally different ourselves! That’s what I call evangelism. When you can’t get around it.”

Quoting an American historian Lerone Bennett Jr., Vivian described the conundrum for African-Americans striving for civil rights
in which fighting back physically would result in being “destroyed physically,” but inaction would result in being “destroyed
morally and spiritually.”

“Then Martin King appeared on the scene,” said Vivian. “With the answer: Non-violent direct action.”

Referencing the effects of bus boycotts raising bus owner’s concern for losing customers, Vivian added, “Over a period of time
they will see that your concern for humanity is better than their concern for money.”

  Vivian noted in a phone interview that his style of delivery has been affected by witnessing King’s own powerful speeches. He
included that King had brought “the power of truth and personality” to the legacy of public speaking.

He also said that King’s oratory finesse was in his “believing and seeing [his cause] and making other people see that what [he
was] talking about is basic to life.”

The other speakers from the night carried King’s spirit in his words by including personally significant MLK quotes within their
statements.

High school students across Madison spent the morning of Martin Luther King Day for a youth service event held at the
Wisconsin Institute of Discovery. Along with workshops, science demonstrations and volunteer service activities the event
featured Dr. Aileen Green as a keynote speaker.

The weekend before the national holiday featured special events including an annual community dinner held by the King’s
Coalition on Friday evening. On Saturday night the Madison’s Women in Focus Inc. hosted a scholarship fundraising ball
  
MLK Keynote speakers Reverend C.T. Vivian (L) and Sherrilyn Ifill,
a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law
By Marlon Eric Lima

After death one’s spirit is resuscitated through the
impact of that person’s words and work. For this year’s
Martin Luther King Day, Madison organizations
sustained Dr. King’s memory with a series of events
that incorporated the spirit of a passionate keynote
speaker.

On the national holiday, hundreds gathered for the 32nd
annual “Tribute and Ceremony” held at the Capitol
Rotunda to honor King. The Martin Luther King State
Planning Committee appropriately themed the
afternoon event, “Daybreak of Justice.”
featuring guest speaker Ismael R. Ozanne. Mt.
Zion Baptist Church also held a mid-day Sunday
service dedicated to King.

After the service, the Wisconsin Campus Compact
held their first Sunday Supper event at the nearby
Urban League. The event consisted of a homely
meal, a documentary about King’s work with the
1968 sanitation worker’s strike and an open
community discussion initiated by keynote
speaker William Jones, an associate professor of
history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

American writer and clergyman Charles Swindoll
captured life in his apt quote, “Life is 10 percent
what happens to you and 90 percent how you react
to it.” Martin Luther King Day celebrations are an
annual reminder of King’s exemplar response to
injustice. Yet, as Reverend Vivian had pointed out,
we are left to react to King’s message further
throughout the rest of the year through our own
words and actions to carry King’s legacy.