Martin Luther King Jr. Honorary Brunch

By Shannon Ward

Though the day itself commemorates something somber—the life and legacy of a man who was killed fighting for equality—the atmosphere within the Mellon Boardroom was far from morose this Monday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch. Beginning with tea, coffee, and a plateful of finger foods, a large group of staff, students, and guests of all backgrounds filled every seat in the basement of Mellon. The purpose of this assembly was simple: to honor a man who stood for the same thing Chatham stands for: equality and justice for all people without regard to inborn differences. In a display that can only be described as moving, the audience sat in contented silence, touched by the words of student speaker Shamin Mason who told the tale of racial inequality that still exists today. Her carry away message: no one should ever stop fighting discrimination, no matter what form it takes. Hearts and eyes were lifted during the two songs (Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing—“The Black National Anthem”—and Freedom) performed by the talented Amber Phillips. Her first piece, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, was introduced with polite applause, but by the time she left the podium for the second time, the approval from the crowd carried on for several minutes, some members of the audience climbing to their feet. Finally, the keynote speaker, Pastor Frank Tillman Jr. proved once again that good things come to those who wait. His speech displayed a colorful array of both Dr. King’s history and the contemporary ramifications that still follow in the man’s footsteps even today. In a closing statement that spoke for itself, Mr. Tillman asked the audience to stand, take hands, and join with him in a song of unity. Even those whose clumsy lips did not know the words filled the room with a unique and utterly powerful beauty. With that, the brunch ended in a gesture of race-less, gender-less brotherhood—the quintessence of what Dr. King fought for—that needed no further verbal conclusion.