In a room with the capacity of more than 400 people,approximately 20 students, faculty, staff and guests gathered inhonor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to worship in the Hughes-TriggTheater on Sunday evening.
“We may be few in numbers tonight, but we are mighty inspirit,” Pastor Anthony Everett said.
Everett, better known as Pastor E, and the voices of St. LukeUnited Methodist Church’s Chorale Choir led the worshipservice, “The Struggle Continues.” It was the last offive MLK Week 2004 events sponsored by the SMU WesleyFoundation.
Pastor E created a relaxed setting where he was able to relateand speak to his audience. He spoke of current issues and personalevents and used humor and slang to remember Dr. King.
During the service, Everett offered three things that the humanrace needs to do in order to save humanity.
“First, drop your baggage and run. Second, keep your eyeson the prize. Third, don’t sweat the‘haters,'” he said.
Although numbers were small, which Pastor E accredited to thelarge amount of time it takes to spread racial awareness, the crowdwas diverse. About five students from the Muslim StudentAssociation offered their presence and voices to stress that allmen are created equal.
“[Dr. King’s] message was not about race relation,but about equality of all mankind,” sophomore Aatique Shaikhsaid.
Shaikh’s comment closely tied into Everett’s messagethat King was not simply fighting for African-American rights.
“[Dr. King] understood the connectedness of all oppressedpeople,” Everett said.
It is this awareness that Everett believes is needed most onSMU’s campus.
“All of us have the same personal needs, but socially andculturally we have different needs. When we learn and understandeach other’s culture is when we grow,” Everettsaid.
Along with cultural awareness, Everett stressed the need for theeducation. He encouraged everyone to read because “it isthrough education that diversity comes together. It is ourgeneration’s responsibility to grow in our knowledge in orderto win the race to save humanity.”
Everett recalled a quote of King’s to sum up hismessage.
“I might not get there with you, but we as a people willmake it to the promise land,” he said.
