Legacy honored: Community events recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Jan. 11—Community organizations will honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a range of events.
Penn State Scranton hosts Minnijean Brown Trickey, a member of the Little Rock Nine and Congressional Gold Medal recipient, for its annual MLK Day Celebration on Friday, Jan. 13.
In 1957, Brown Trickey and eight other students made history when they attended Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, following the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 landmark decision to strike down racial segregation in public schools with Brown v. Board of Education.
The Little Rock Nine experienced both verbal and physical harassment at the school, and Brown Trickey was suspended and later expelled for retaliating against her tormentors.
The free event begins at 2 p.m. in the Study Learning Center at Penn State Scranton, 120 Ridge View Drive, Dunmore. Doors open at 1:30. Along with Brown Trickey's keynote address, the university will present two Excellence in Diversity Awards. For more information, visit scranton.psu.edu/mlk.
"We are honored to have Minnijean Brown Trickey share her story here at Penn State Scranton," said Emily Glodzik, coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion. "Hearing her profound experiences will be an impactful way to highlight Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work and legacy of fighting injustice in the world."
The Greater Scranton MLK Commission holds its annual dinner in the University of Scranton's DeNaples Center, 900 Mulberry St., on Sunday, Jan. 15, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. This year's event, "When Good People Remain Silent: Antisemitism, Othering and Belonging," features professor, theologian and author Sister Mary C. Boys, Ed.D., as the keynote speaker.
Cathy Hardaway, president of the commission, said organizers always look at what's pertinent to the community while planning the event.
"Our mission and our charge is to really celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and I will tell you, Jewish people marched with Blacks in the civil rights marches, Jewish people died in the civil rights marches with Black men and women, and I just thought we have to talk about it and get a 'today' understanding of what antisemitism means," Hardaway said.
Boys, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, serves as Skinner and McAlpin professor of practical theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
After the virtual keynote, local clergy members will hold a roundtable discussion in person. The panel includes Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Temple Hesed; the Rev. Mark Alexander, Bethel AME Church; the Rev. Rebecca Barnes, St. Luke's Episcopal Church; and Pastor Eric Wohner, Steamtown Church.
Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at safdn.org/ mlk-event. Hardaway said attendees need to register before noon on Friday, Jan. 13.
The commission also will sponsor a free youth program, "Belonging and Inclusion: How Othering Affects Society," on Saturday, Jan. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Scranton High School, 63 Mike Munchak Way, as well as Actors Circle's production of "The Mountaintop" by Katori Hall.
Set in the Lorraine Motel, the play is a fictional depiction of the evening before King's assassination in 1968. It comes to Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton, on Thursdays, Jan. 12 and 19, at 7 p.m.; Fridays, Jan. 13 and 20, and Saturdays, Jan. 14 and 21, at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Jan. 15 and 22, at 2 p.m.
For reservations, call 570-342-9707 or email tickets@actorscircle.com. Tickets cost $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors and students. All admission costs $10 during a special preview night Thursday, Jan. 12.
The Leaders In Training program at United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania will host a free afternoon of bingo Monday, Jan. 16, at Oppenheim Center for the Arts, 1004 Jackson St., Scranton. Doors open at 1 p.m.
Along with 15 games of bingo with prizes and refreshments, attendees can learn about the Greater Scranton MLK Commission. Donations of school supplies for UNC's after-school programs are appreciated.
Closing out Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Scranton Area Ministerium invites the community to a multi-faith service Monday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in Salvation Apostolic Temple Church, 223 N. Main Ave., Scranton.
Contact the writer:
bwilliams@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5107;
@BWilliamsTT on Twitter.
