Last updated on February 5, 2024
Photo: Cameron Adams
Cameron Adams
Editor In Chief
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. informed the world about a dream 61 years ago that would wake up society for decades to come.
His dream sparked a world of change for equal rights and equal opportunity not only for African- Americans, but for every race in the world.
On Jan. 19, 2024, Jackson State University honored Dr. King’s vision by hosting their 56th Annual MLK Birthday Convocation.
The event was held in the Rose E. Mccoy Auditorium where several students, faculty members, and community partners gathered to hear inspirational speeches by student leaders and the keynote speaker, Leslie-Burl McLemore, Ph.D. Jason Johnson, a senior electrical engineering major from Belleville, Mich., and 78th Student Government Association president, opened the ceremony by honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
“Martin Luther King was not just a civil rights leader, but a symbol of hope, resilience, and power of peaceful activism,” stated Johnson. “MLK Day is not only a day to remember the past, but also a day to inspire action for the future.”
That is exactly what McLemore did in his address, inspire.
Most people know McLemore as a Professor Emeritus of political science at Jackson State University, but he is much more than a teacher of political change, he is also taking part in the change.
McLemore serves as a member of the Board of Aldermen in Walls, Miss., where he made history as one of two African-Americans elected to the board.
Although McLemore has many achievements when it comes to inspiring change in the community, he continues to advocate for change. During his speech, he emphasized to students that the fate of African-American rights lies in their hands.
“When I started to think about what I was going to say this morning, I was thinking about the students,” stated McLemore.
He claimed that his main target was the freshmen of Jackson State because they would be more willing to hear him out compared to upper-class men.
“I know I can influence freshmen because at one point, I was a freshman. I’m a freshman class president at Russ College…I wanted to say to the freshman…In spite of the difficulties, you are in a special institution. You’re in a special place,” said McLemore.
Despite his original intentions to speak directly to freshmen, he decided to share a message with every member of the student body.
“Take advantage of where you are and learn as much as you can because you will be called upon to lead the world,” McLemore stated.
One of his many messages was to get to know the state officials of Mississippi. He said that doing so would allow them a chance to learn knowledge that will aid them whenever they are called upon to lead the world.
His message was created to inspire students who do not want to ask for change but demand it.
Students who want to protect the right to vote rather than complain about the lack of.
“Democracy is under attack and we must protect the right to vote. It is your fight. It is my fight.
Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Wiley Evers… and many others died protecting the right to vote. We must not let democracy die,” said McLemore.
He emphasized the importance of voting, because of a recurring issue that continues to harm black residents in Mississippi.
“We are living in a state where we, as I repeat myself, are 40 percent African-American and we don’t have not one statewide black elected official. Martin Luther King would have something to say,” exclaimed McLemore.
McLemore then went on to state that despite how long the fight for equality has been going on, there has yet to be a determined winner. He encourages the youth to carry on the legacy of Dr. King by continuing the fight, no matter how hard the punches.
Britney Taplin, a senior marketing major from Byram, Miss., said that although she attended the event virtually, she felt every word of McLemore’s inspiring speech.
“His words were inspirational. I agreed with every word he said about taking advantage of the resources we have available as students,” stated Taplin. “If we want change in our community, we have to utilize the platform we have as Jackson State students.”
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