Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Life & Legacy Celebration

An Evening of Music, Spoken Word and Dance

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023  ♦  Moody Music Building

Using the theme “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Insistence. Resistance. Persistence.” the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in collaboration with the UA Theatre and Dance Department and the UA School of Music produced this event highlighting student talent and creativity. From a student-written and acted skit, to student-written and performed spoken word to performances by UA choirs to history lessons via video, this rich program provided a variety of educational opportunities regarding Dr. King. Also, hear “UA Speaks: I Have a Dream” campus voices from our students, faculty and staff as they share their dreams for a more just future. View below images and educational videos from the event. View the event.

Planning Committee: Dr. G. Christine Taylor, chair, vice president and associate provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Dr. Alexis Davis-Hazell, School of Music; Osielia Lewis, DEI; Dr. Morgan Luttig, School of Music; Lyndell McDonald, Theatre and Dance; Soledad Sanchez, Theatre and Dance; Kelley Schoger, Theatre and Dance; Latoya Scott, DEI; Cresandra Smothers, DEI; and Dr. Susan Williams, School of Music.

Dr. Alexis Davis-Hazell, assistant professor of voice and lyric diction and a mezzo-soprano, UA School of Music, was the soloist for “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with the MLK Celebration Mass Choir.

Quin Kelly, Jr., (at microphone) a public health graduate student at UA, and Dr. G. Christine Taylor (at left), vice president and associate provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, narrated the event.

A skit showing the challenges of voting in 1963 was performed by UA students Aliyah James, a junior from Mobile, Alabama, majoring in Aerospace Engineering, (right) and Samantha White, a freshman from New Orleans, Louisiana, majoring in News Media, who wrote the skit.

UA student Aliyah James and Dr. William “Ross” Bryan, assistant dean of UA Honors College, portray characters in a skit about voting rights in 1963.

“Oh, Freedom!” was one of the many songs performed during the event. Audience members were invited to sing along to the words on screen.

The University’s Afro American Gospel Choir performed “Ride On King Jesus,” “My Hope is Built,” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round.”

Members of UA’s Pan-Hellenic Council march during the singing of “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round.”

The free event was open to the community and community members were invited to participate in the celebration mass choir.

Dr. Morgan Luttig, assistant professor and director of choral activities, UA School of Music, directed the mass choir and led the audience in learning songs of the civil rights movement.

Long-time Tuscaloosa resident Dr. Tyshawn Gardner, who is associate professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, gave the charge for the evening: “More to Do.”