‘O King: A Tribute to the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’
Gala event at UTC offers gratitude in word and song to late activist
A musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “life, legacy and tremendous impact on the civil-rights movement” is scheduled tonight, March 9, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “O King” is presented by the UTC Department of Fine Arts, Music Division.
Organizers say the gala event offers a challenge to imagine what American society might be like had King “not delivered his powerful speeches and moved thousands of citizens to come together in unity for social justice.”
The multidisciplinary event will feature music ranging from gospel and spirituals to jazz and classical music by black composers, with performers from across campus and the community.
In between performances, faculty members from the departments of political science, criminal justice and philosophy will be joined by campus and community leaders, including Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, to offer brief spoken reflections about various aspects of King’s influence on society and how Americans may still benefit from the ideals he promoted.
Dr. Ethan Mills, of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, says his favorite aspect of King’s work “is his combination of tough-mindedness and tenderheartedness: Thinking clearly and carefully while speaking truth to power is compatible with acting out of love and compassion for all human beings.”
The tribute will take place in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall within the UTC Fine Arts Center. A reception will follow in the lobby.