Jan. 20 is a day of service and remembrance dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate MLK’s commitment toward civil rights. WSU Vancouver’s Center for Intercultural Learning and Affirmation and Black People United partnered to present a three-day event from Jan. 20 to Jan. 22 to honor MLK’s work.
Aemri Marks, president of BPU, explained how the events will be organized. “Part of our planning process has been between myself and the vice president of the Vancouver chapter of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. We’ve been trying to plan and coordinate the events that they’re having for the month, as well as the ones we’re planning here on campus so that people have the opportunity to go to multiple events,” Marks said.
According to Julie Mercado, manager of CILA, the three-day series will happen both on and off campus. Mercado explained CILA and BPU wanted to balance a remembrance of MLK’s work with acts of service to honor the holiday.
To commemorate MLK on Jan. 20, volunteering VanCougs will team up with Fort Vancouver High School students to participate in a cleanup of local parks and trails, like removing invasive ivy around Blandford Canyon, located in East Vancouver. This event has two benefits, according to Mercado: to connect high school students with college students and to create positive impact in the local community.
On Jan. 21, BPU plans to host a dinner and documentary showing of “I am MLK Jr.” in the Firstenburg Student Commons from 4-6:30 p.m. After the film, a facilitated discussion and reflection will take place. “There’s a whole documentary series that start with ‘I Am’ about different historical figures, so this one is specifically about [MLK],” Marks said.
Marks explained that her goal is to attend every event and has been enthusiastic to be part of the process. “I want to show my support. I think I’m most excited for the dinner and documentary screening since there will be an opportunity for discussion, and it’ll be probably one of the larger events that BPU puts on this year,” Marks said. She explained that the three-day celebration will mark the first time BPU does a day of service in approximately two years and is excited to see it happening again.
During the final day of the series, Jan. 22, Aisha Fukushima will be presenting at WSU Vancouver as part of the Cultural Arts Hip-Hop and Equity series. Fukushima will speak about her experience as an activist and musician.
According to Marks, Fukushima is also the founder of “RAPtivism,” a global hip-hop project that seeks to communicate social problems through music. “She’s a performance artist, she’s a singer, she is an advocate for civil rights. A lot of the people we’ve had come for the cultural events series are activists in some way,” Marks said.
Marks explains that Fukushima’s presentation will be held in the VDEN 110 from 4-6 p.m. A workshop will occur before the presentation for students to ask questions and get to know the artist.
Mercado explained that there will be more events like this later in the year. “There will be more events during black history month, that, like I said, BPU is taking the lead on all of this and we support them. There will be more.”
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.