MLK Day Events

Four panelists reflect on MLK’s dream a half-century later

Peace. Equality. A dream deferred. Or diluted.

These were some of the concepts dis- cussed in a panel discussion of “New Faces of the Dream: A Dream Deferred?” held Jan. 20 in Lawless Memorial Chapel as one of several events for the Martin Luther King Week 4 Peace.

The event, sponsored by Dillard, Loyola, Tulane and Xavier universities, featured four panelists, with rapper Dee-1 as mod- erator.

They included:

• Nandi Campbell, an associate pro- fessor at Tulane School of Law.

• Dr. Alex Mikulich, a Roman Cath- olic anti-racist theologian and social ethi- cist.

• Charles S. Corpew III, a psychol- ogy professor at Loyola University and Tu-

lane graduate. • Chavis Brockington, founder and

CEO of Brockington Enterprise, LLC. All four were asked, “What does King’s

dream mean to you and why?” Corpew said, “It means peace – to have

a peaceful nation.” He referred to King’s non-violence philosophy in resolving con- ict.

Campbell said her interpretation of the dream, is Equality.

She also said that it’s OK to want equal- ity, but we cannot ignore the history behind this country.

Dee-1 asked whether the dream has been deferred.

Brockington responded, “It’s more so diluted.”

He explained that Americans to “an in- credible job” acknowledging King’s dream

but are not as successful with executing his dream.

“In order for us to carry out his dream, we have to get in that mindset of becoming stronger as a community – become more united to make a voice,” he said.

Campbell said it’s important to be open and honest about this country’s history, in- cluding current events such as instances of police brutality.

This event was one of the MLK Week 4 Peace events held at different universities around the city. Other events included a day of service, a step-off and a speech on so- cial equality by lm director/producer Mi- chael Skolnik, who is president of Def Jam founder Russell Simmons’ GlobalGrind. com.

(Astasia Williams contributed to this report.)