Civil rights activist Mary Frances Berry delivered a message that encouraged all students — regardless of race — to fight for social justice Wednesday night in the Union Theater at the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration.
Berry said social justice comes and goes in waves, and it must be fought for.
“Every time you get major social change, someone must go through the fire,” she said. “Many got through the window of opportunity after the civil rights movement, but the window has closed.”
Lauren Williams, a chemistry and mathematics senior, was the Mistress of Ceremony.
“The whole crowd, the whole mood was totally in respect of MLK,” she said.
Berry spoke about the life and accomplishments of King and of how he loved to joke and laugh. She encouraged students to be leaders and told them King was not born a leader, but chose to become one.
“She brought up points about Dr. King’s speech people do not know about.” said Lerea Earles, a senior in psychology.
Berry spoke about “The Bounced Check,” which is the actual name King gave to his “I Have a Dream” Speech. In the speech, King talked about taking a check to the Capitol, written out for justice that was returned, marked “insufficient funds.”
Berry described what she called headwinds — a variety of things that keep people from accomplishing their potential. Headwinds are not the things people do wrong — but the things the system does to hurt people, she said.
Berry said it is a problem when the government can take Americans’ rights away in the name of a war against terror.
She warned the black community against being oppressive after having been an oppressed group itself.
She encouraged the black community to be more accepting of the lesbian and gay community and to be aware that there are black gay men and lesbian women. She said intolerance against this community has caused them to hide and furthered the spread of AIDS.
Aryon Crockett introduced Berry and was impressed with Berry’s address. “Dr. Berry was a profound speaker. She definitely moved everybody. She moved me. She definitely carried on Dr. King’s legacy through her profound words,” she said.