There are many institutions honoring the man who lead one of the greatest social revolutions in American history. Campuses across the country are bringing in well renowned black celebrities and political figures to speak at their gatherings and holding ceremonies that try recreate and recapture the spirit and emotions that were felt more than 50 years ago.
Central Michigan University has garnered headlines for scheduling former Secretary of State Colin Powell to speak at their weeklong celebration. Davenport University is organizing a silent march around campus while University of Minnesota goes to the other end of the spectrum and holding their annual musical tribute for the late reverend.
Morehouse College, where King once studied, may be doing more to honor his spirit this year than any other school. What Morehouse has done is establish an opportunity for students to learn about the inequalities in America, educate themselves about the people who are struggling and provide a channel of understanding and acceptance in a peaceful, respectful manner. The difference today is that the minority looking for equality and respect is the LGBT community.
Morehouse College, which was once the scene for a brutal baseball bat assault on a male student after he was mistakenly thought to be homosexual, will now be offering a LGBT course. “A Genealogy of Black LGBT Culture and Politics” is the first course of its kind for Morehouse College, which was strongly criticized after the assault for its complete lack of cultural and social understanding. While well behind many other universities in its ability to adapt to social diversities, Morehouse is proudly taking its first step is correct their inadequacies.
While Martin Luther King Jr.’s support for homosexuals has been questioned many times, it is hard to forecast the actions of a man who lived in a time so disassociated from the modern society. Coretta Scott King, widowed wife of Dr. King Jr. and strong advocate for the rights of the LGBT community, believes that her husband would be standing with her against homophobia and inequality. It is hard to question the women who was so influential in Dr. King’s personal life and so involved with social injustice today.
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice,” Coretta King said. “But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”
It is a very bold and progressive move for a historic college such as Morehouse, a school that overcame a whole nation’s racial injustice and discrimination, to face their own prejudices and strive to improve.