Martin Luther King Jr. brought civil rights to the forefront with his nonviolent movement, and because of his great achievements we as a nation have celebrated his birthday as a National holiday since 1986. From January 19-23, Baldwin Wallace University and the city of Berea celebrated a man who brought great change to our nation.
During the week, BW celebrated as Ritter library held a series of displays showing conflict throughout U.S. from the time of Dr. King’s leadership. He was looking for peace at home during a time of war overseas, and the library’s displays—which will be shown throughout the month of January—look closely into both of those conflicts.
The events began Sunday, January 18 with “Songfest” at the United Methodist Church in Berea where groups from campus, such as Voices of Praise, and groups around Berea came to sing.
The events continued in Berea with the Annual Prayer Breakfast at Mt. Zion Baptist Church where community members celebrated with singing, readings and a delicious breakfast all in the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday the campus and community joined in a Candlelight march at 6:30 pm down Bagley Road and to the CIG. Many BW students attended including one fraternity who sang during the march. On Wednesday the Berea Public Library put on a video presentation of videos created by high school students that celebrate all that Martin Luther did and believed in during his life.
Thursday was the big day of events, which brought a Day of Learning that included a presentation, a reading activity, and an art activity in which students decorated their own projects, and then the students either drew or wrote their dreams or aspirations.
Services at local churches to remember Martin Luther King Jr. continued on through the week, including a service at the Lindsey-Crossman Chapel  on Thursday.  Also on Thursday, BW presented speaker Charlise Lyles, a voice and writer of inspiration for children and young adults to overcome diversity, as part of the EQLS series.
Lastly, on Friday from 10am until 4pm in the Union, the group People of United Color hosted an interactive maze titled, “Your Feet: My Shoes.” Students and the community of Berea were able to walk though and see multiple displays of oppression that people around the world face every day from racial prejudice, sexual orientation prejudice and gender prejudice.
The maze helped to promote greater understanding and awareness of what is taking place around the world. Each event around campus brought great opportunities to remember all that happened and is happening throughout the nation.
Many believe that discrimination and oppression no longer take place, but the events shown throughout the week show that they do still happen. But the events also showed how we as a campus, as a community, and as a nation will never forget about what has happened in our past, and that we will move forward day by day, and step by step.