The spotlight shined brightly Friday evening for the Martin Luther King Jr. Night Of Performing Arts in the Union. The program was dedicated to King’s accomplishments. Students expressed their respect and understanding of King’s work through vocal performances, poetry and dance. Austin Patterson kicked off the night with an excerpt from the “I Have A Dream” speech King delivered Aug. 28, 1963, to more than 100,000 people in Washington, D.C. The talent competition featured two categories as well as dance performances and a fashion show. Laure Cook, textiles, apparel and merchandise sophomore, won first place in the singing and rapping category, singing “Someday We’ll Be Free” by Alicia Keys. “She had the best vocals,” said Ife Onyenekwu, pre-nursing junior. The House Of Couture Models used the stage in the Union’s Cotillion Ballroom as their runway for the intermission act between the talent competition categories. Four students entered the poetry category in the talent competition. Nakia Thomas, business management sophomore, recited an original poem titled “Water,” an acronym that stands for “Wisdom Attained Through Everyday Revelation.” Thomas wrote the poem a year ago and won first place in her category. “It was very symbolic and deep on an intellectual level,” said Lanetha Jefferson, music education junior. Desiree Joseph, kinesiology freshman, placed second with her poem “I am a Black Woman,” and Matthew Davis, communication studies junior, won third place for his poem “What’s the Solution?” Thirteen members of the Legacy Dancers performed “Evolution Of Dance,” a medley of several hip-hop dancing styles. Sabrina Bauggue, dietetics junior, danced to “Caged Bird” by Alicia Keys. The dance performances were not part of the talent competition. Several students who attended the talent competition said the University needs programs that commemorate King’s work. “It’s very important to have this type of event, celebrating Martin Luther King and his memory and Black History Year, not month,” Onyenekwu said. Victoria Roberts, animal science senior, said she went to the talent competition because she wants to support the University’s programs.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]