Professors Recall Dr. King's Vision

Prominent speakers paid homage to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. at a service in Memorial Church yesterday.

Approximately 200 spectators attended the event, which included hymns and readings from King's sermons.

Rev. Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals, told the crowd that the purpose of the service was to "commemorate and recollect the ideas of [King]." Gomes praised the power of King's vision and said that the goals of the civil rights movement are "a reality not yet achieved."

Professor of Education Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot addressed the crowd in King's own words, delivering powerful excerpts from sermons King gave shortly before his death.

"`Somewhere along the way you should discoversomething that is so dear that you will never giveit up...something you are willing to die for ifnecessary... this is the meaning of faith,'"Lightfoot read.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., chair of theAfro-American Studies Department, delivered themain address. Gates concentrated on the career ofthe essayist and novelist James Baldwin. Accordingto Gates, Baldwin's work has continued relevanceto the issues of race relations King dealt with.

"Each of us, helplessly and forever, containsthe other...white in Black and Black in white. Weare a part of each other,'" Gates read from one ofBaldwin's essays, adding, "We needed to hear thosewords 20 years ago and we need to hear themtoday."

Gates ended his speech at 1 p.m., explainingthat he wanted to allow the audience to attendvisiting lecturer Spike Lee's class in SandersTheater.

Audience members said Lee was briefly inattendance at the King memorial service.

Niambi D. Webster of Syracuse University sangtwo a capella pieces in memory of King and hisvision of racial justice. "He'd seen themountaintop/ He knew that he could not stop,"Webster sang, concluding with a challenge to theaudience: "We'd better stop and think againbecause we're heading for the brink again.

"`Somewhere along the way you should discoversomething that is so dear that you will never giveit up...something you are willing to die for ifnecessary... this is the meaning of faith,'"Lightfoot read.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., chair of theAfro-American Studies Department, delivered themain address. Gates concentrated on the career ofthe essayist and novelist James Baldwin. Accordingto Gates, Baldwin's work has continued relevanceto the issues of race relations King dealt with.

"Each of us, helplessly and forever, containsthe other...white in Black and Black in white. Weare a part of each other,'" Gates read from one ofBaldwin's essays, adding, "We needed to hear thosewords 20 years ago and we need to hear themtoday."

Gates ended his speech at 1 p.m., explainingthat he wanted to allow the audience to attendvisiting lecturer Spike Lee's class in SandersTheater.

Audience members said Lee was briefly inattendance at the King memorial service.

Niambi D. Webster of Syracuse University sangtwo a capella pieces in memory of King and hisvision of racial justice. "He'd seen themountaintop/ He knew that he could not stop,"Webster sang, concluding with a challenge to theaudience: "We'd better stop and think againbecause we're heading for the brink again.