The Michigan State University community gathered to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during its 45th annual commemorative celebration. Hosted at the Kellogg Center on Jan. 16, the event marked decades of commitment to advancing civil rights and community engagement. Organized by MSU’s Residence Education and Housing Services, the MLK Planning Committee, the Office of the Provost, and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the 21st annual Community Unity Dinner emphasized the enduring impact of Dr. King’s vision.

The evening began with a powerful rendition of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” performed by vocalist Tiffany Gridiron, pianist Aya Sekine, and bassist Sam Corey.

Co-hosts Dreux Baker, assistant director for diversity, equity and inclusion in Residence Education and Housing Services, and Kassidy Do, chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Residence Halls Association, welcomed attendees with messages of unity and inspiration.

“Each student here tonight is an example of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy,” said Baker. Do followed, urging the audience to consider their role in continuing Dr. King’s work, asked, “What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?”

MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., reflected on the university’s history of honoring Dr. King, starting with a graduate student’s efforts in 1980. “This commitment honors MLK’s legacy and the brave students who challenged structures of inequality and progressed the moral arc of the universe,” he said.

2024-25 MLK Endowed Scholarship recipients

The celebration highlighted the achievements of the 2024-25 MLK Endowed Scholarship recipients, introduced by graduate assistant Deshawn Will. The scholarship honors MSU students dedicated to advancing Dr. King’s ideals of community engagement and social justice.

• Damilola Adissa
• Samantha Bannister
• Trevon Campbell
• Destiny Dancy
• Muhammad Masood
• Marsha Lee Nassif
• Ibrahima Ndiaye
• Richard Nguyen
• Ailin Patimar
• Sushmit Roddur 
• Jaydon Ruiz
• Adrian Ryan
• Amal Said
• Amelia Shina

Inspiring performances and student voices

A highlight of the evening was senior acting student Rashad Bates’ original spoken word piece, “MLK: A Citizen of the World.” Written by Ph.D. student Jess Reed, the piece called for accountability and condemned systemic issues like racism, materialism and militarism. Bates passionately declared, “Let us dedicate ourselves to the bitter but beautiful struggle for a new world!”

Student speakers Amily Ko, a junior in the School of Packaging and Dylan Kemp, an M.A. student in financial planning, delivered a heartfelt speech about the importance of advocacy and resilience. Ko emphasized the power of advocacy, stating, “As Dr. King advocated for African Americans, we can advocate for our community by breaking down barriers and celebrating our diversity.” 

Kemp reflected on Dr. King’s perseverance against systemic oppression, encouraging the audience to pursue their goals with equal determination.

The evening also included Gridiron’s moving performance of “If I Can Help Somebody,” which filled the room with hope and empowerment.

Keynote address Sharon Chia Claros

Keynote speaker Sharon Chia Claros, a diversity, equity and inclusion practitioner and dean of community and belonging at Rolling Hills Preparatory Schools, delivered a deeply personal and impactful address. Reflecting on her experiences with internalized racism and the inspiration she drew from Dr. King’s work, Chia Claros shared how his vision of a beloved community transformed her understanding of justice and equity.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” she quoted, urging the audience to confront systemic inequalities with non-violent action. Chia Claros highlighted Dr. King’s intersectional advocacy, which extended beyond racial justice to include Indigenous rights, gender equality and labor issues.

“Freedom and liberation are our God-given rights,” she concluded, calling on attendees to demand and create a society centered on love, freedom and liberation.

Continuing the legacy

The evening concluded with remarks from Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., MSU’s vice president and chief diversity officer, who emphasized that while Dr. King laid the foundation, the work of advancing equity and justice continues.

“Go green!” Bennett exclaimed, closing the celebration on a hopeful note.

Supporting the mission

The MSU community is encouraged to support the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund, which helps students continue Dr. King’s legacy of advocacy and engagement. Donations are tax-deductible and directly benefit scholarship recipients.

This year’s celebration served as a powerful reminder of Dr. King’s enduring legacy and the collective responsibility to build a more just and inclusive world.

Photography by Dane Robison