In MLK's footsteps, activist Yolanda Renee King honors grandfather at Clemson program

Only 14-years-old, Yolonda Renee King speaks with conviction and clarity. King, like her grandfather, has the ability to captivate an audience.

King, sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King was the keynote speaker Tuesday night in front of a large crowd at Clemson University's 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Keynote Program.

She gave a timely, heartfelt speech about being a young activist and continuing her grandfather's dream and legacy.

"I am 14-years-old and I'm just getting started," the young activist said. "I never met my paternal grandparents in person because they died before I was born and yet, I feel that I know them well. I have heard stories about them since I was a small child. I have studied their writings. I have listened to tapes of them speaking and I have watched videos that show them in action," King said.

"I feel that somehow, they are with me, that our spirits are joined in the quest for a just, loving and peaceful world. I am very proud to be their granddaughter, but I am also challenged by their inspiring legacies of vision, courage and their competent leadership."

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King was given the choice to continue her family's legacy of community service and activism. She said her parents, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, never forced her into activism, but they also didn't discourage her.

"I am blessed that my father and mother decided to include me in their work to fulfill the dream. As a result, I have already traveled across the country and two other countries, taking part in programs as an advocate of nonviolent social change."

King is an advocate for voter reform and stopping gun violence, along with issues related to pollution and homelessness.

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King said gun violence doesn't allow her and her peers to just be children. She said many life in fear at school due to the rise in campus shootings. King said more could be done to combat gun violence and mass shootings, like making it harder to obtain "weapons of mass murder."

"Thoughts and prayers are helpful only after you take action," King said.

King also called on young people to boycott violence in the media.

"Culture is something we create with our choices. Let's make better choices," she said.

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Yolonda Renee King urges young people to get involved

The young activist said you don't have to be a great speaker or have a large audience to be engaged. She encouraged other young people to get involved through art, starting a club and through attending rallies.

"We are challenged to become people who care about our community, nation and world. And are willing to work for causes larger than ourselves. In every generation, young people are called to provide leadership for change to overcome," King said. "You showing up just shows how passionate you are about the issue, which allegedly puts pressure on politicians to pass legislation so that we can actually see change," King said.

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King's call to action touched Derrick Joyce, a senior at Clemson University majoring in computer engineering.

Joyce, vice president of the National Society of Black Engineers at Clemson, said, "It was very impressive to see someone even younger than me take ownership of what she believes in."

As a black engineering student at Clemson University, Joyce knows that students need support.

"That is my avenue towards inspiring young Black students and engineers specifically, because we are the most minority in the minority. Being Black is hard enough at Clemson. Being an engineer and being black, I am literally one of the only Black people in most of my classes. So, this is my way of giving back and giving that support and mentorship for the people."

King making the decision on her own to pursue activism stood out to Joyce.

"Makes me really think am I choosing to do activism? Am I choosing to play my part or am I going through the motions of the day to day?"

Joyce went on to say, "It's one thing to take and it's another thing to give. And that's a conscious choice we have to make every day. So, I do my best and of course, like (King) talked about we have days of discouragement, but most of the days I try to at least lend a helping hand and make myself available to the people that are trying to walk in my footsteps."

King acknowledged that activism and community service can be hard.

"This work is not easy at all," King said. "That time when you feel discouraged is the most important time. That's when all the hard work happens. Don't give up. Don't give in. Don't give out."

Yolonda Renee King on how to honor her grandfather's legacy

"It's really cool that I had a cool grandfather," King said smiling.

She acknowledged that her grandparents have a legacy of working to make the world a more peaceful place.

"You see many public figures glorifying him, but it's like 'Do you really live by the dream?' I think that it's great that we are definitely glorifying his work but also at the same time it's kind of ironic because after that you're just continuing to do what you usually do," King said.

The young activist said politicians can honor this legacy by passing legislation that helps people.

"The best way to glorify him is really by showing and taking action," King said.

Royale Bonds covers growth & development and issues related to affordable housing and gentrification. Reach her via email at rbonds@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: In MLK's footsteps, Yolanda Reese King honors grandfather at Clemson