Arts and tweets honor Martin Luther King Jr

On Jan. 20, Delta College celebrated “Citizenship in Action” to honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The celebration featured the unveiling of the Dr. King mosaic as well as other artwork created by Public Achievement Program participants from Bridgeport High School and Reuben Daniels Middle School.

Daniel Segura, Associate Director/International Advising Coordinator at Delta College, said it is important to honor King because he dedicated his life to equal rights.

“I think it’s important to celebrate Dr. King, and to be open, because he gave his life and his life work to enhance equality and equal opportunity,” Segura said. “Gaining an education is the best way to advance oneself. The very nature that community colleges exist is to provide opportunities for people that might not normally have had it.”

According to Segura, had King lived today although he would undoubtedly been pleased with the progression of the Civil Rights Movement.

“I think he would look at our world and see that it’s improved and even freer and there’s more opportunity,” he said. “(But) we still have a ways to go.”

A mosaic titled “Our Colors, His Dream,”consisted of 216 tiles and was unveiled at 10 a.m.; each of the tiles was painted by a different public school student.

Throughout the event students had an opportunity to sign encouragement cards featuring King quotes. The cards were distributed to local nursing homes, juvenile detention centers and the Adela E. Lutz VA Hospital in Saginaw.

Throughout the day, students refelcted on what Dr. King meant to them. Delta student Tenesha Blair, 18, said, “He sacrificed a lot to make sure people were treated equally. We are only one race-the human race, and you are somebody.”

Michael Januzzi, volunteer for AmeriCorps said, “Today means community; every person everywhere, no matter what their walk of life is-just giving back and making a human connection by interacting.”

Januzzi didn’t think Delta should have the day off like SVSU students did, “Everyone has time to give back and priorities to give, but juveniles, veterans and the elderly don’t have a day off so why should we?”

Delta College encouraged students to post their thoughts about the national holiday for what they called a hashtag blitz under #DeltaMLKDay.

Some students and staff sent positive messages about the mosaic or their thoughts on the holiday such as Delta counselor Jessica Miller, who tweeted, “Our common ground is our humanness.”

On the other hand, one student, Katherine LaLone didn’t think Delta College should be open, “Why doesn’t Delta have MLK day off? #DeltaMLKday sleep is key.”