Stories about "Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023"
Picture story: ‘You are the bringer of light and change’

Friday, January 20, 2023 4:18 pm

Immerse yourself in the creative hope and beauty of Martin Luther King Jr. Day through Bates photography and video.

Is it OK to target iconic works of art in the name of social justice? That’s what students from Bates and @morehouse1867 debated at the annual Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Class of 1920, Debate as part of the college’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming. Seen above, Chijindum Dike (left) shares a post-debate celebration with John Curry. Both are students from Morehouse College, and traveled to Bates for the debate. The Bates community and friends crowded into the Olin Arts Center for a much-anticipated part of Bates’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming: the debate between four students; two from Morehouse, and two from Bates. The tradition honors Mays, who served as the president of Morehouse College for 27 years. King, then a student at Morehouse, referred to Mays as his “spiritual mentor.” Throughout the debate, the students responded to this year’s motion, “This house believes that the targeting of iconic works of art to advance social justice is justified,” and responded to each other and opinions from the audience. Manuel Machorro ’25 of Mexico City, a politics and philosophy double major, opened the debate on the government side with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. “Dr. King said ‘if you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.’ The claim that we’re gonna make from the government, is that when you’re not listened [to] by anyone, and when the government monopolizes power to destroy you, any way that you see fit is to some capacity justified in pursuing social justice.” Machorro was joined by Dike, a sophomore and double major in psychology and Chinese. The opposition was presented by Curry, a senior and triple major in philosophy, religion, and Chinese, and Andrew Montieth ’24 of Monroe, Wash., a philosophy major. The debaters referenced recent demonstrations, arguing that social justice is furthered by reclaiming spaces and public attention, and the opposition argued that some social activist action diverts attention away from the problem, and onto the targeted object.
Video: ‘Whatever wilderness you wander, you are all creatives’

Friday, January 20, 2023 1:43 pm

Watch some of the highlights of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Bates: a day full of sharing, from poetry, music, and dance, to ideas about activism, education, and living in community.

‘Say yes’: MLK keynote address at Bates College

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 11:48 am

Saying “yes" to the voice inside us that calls for activism, "is your way of speaking your purpose into existence," said Keith Hamilton Cobb, an actor and playwright who delivered the keynote address for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at Bates College.

‘Art & Activism’: The story behind this year’s two MLK Day posters

Thursday, January 12, 2023 11:49 am

Two distinctive posters for Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Bates celebrates the idea that "the history of MLK is beautiful," says Olivia Orr, the graphic designer who created the posters. "We're allowed to be joyful and artistic and expressive.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023 at Bates: Creative offerings explore ‘Art and Activism’

Tuesday, January 10, 2023 2:34 pm

A generous menu of creative events — all offered in person and open to the public — awaits attendees at this year’s MLK Day observance at Bates.