Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a transformative figure in the Civil Rights Movement, shaped American history with an unwavering commitment to racial equality. His iconic “I Have a Dream” speech resonates through generations, urging the country to strive towards a harmonious, inclusive society.
At Luther College, Dream Week went beyond commemoration; instead, it blended reflection, dialogue, and celebration to honor King’s visionary spirit, creating a space for a deeper understanding of the civil rights movement. The week-long event was fueled by the Williams Endowment Fund. The transformative week commenced on January 10 with “The F Word: Stories of Forgiveness” at the Center for Faith and Life (CFL).
The keystone event, however, was the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture, held at 7 p.m. on January 15 in the CFL. Hosted by the Williams Endowment Fund and the Luther identity studies department, the lecture merged academia and advocacy, honoring King’s legacy. Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski introduced Ervin.
“It is my pleasure as mayor to participate in Dream Week in honor of Reverend Martin Luther King Junior,” Borowski said. “More than ever, each of us must work to bridge gaps. We cannot just celebrate one day, and we cannot be content with just being moderate.”
The lecturer was Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Bowdoin College, Dr. Keona K. Ervin. Ervin taught as an Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies at Luther for two years, and presented “Insurgent Black Study: A Brief History of the Present,” delving into the intricate struggles for freedom within Black studies and Black feminist studies.
“I think it is a wonderful way to celebrate MLK’s legacy,” Ervin said. “It attempts to put King’s ideas into practice and into the context in which you all are living in and working and learning and I think it is exactly what King is inviting us all to do.”
On January 16, The CFL Recital Hall hosted “A Conversation on Racial Healing,” aligning with the National Day of Racial Healing. The event was facilitated by Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer and Assistant to the President for Community Engagement Dr. Robert Clay. Clay began by inviting listeners to participate by defining words such as race, prejudice, and healing. These open-ended questions sparked story-telling and community-building.
“To ensure racism is eradicated and other -isms are addressed, we must begin with the power of love,” said Clay. “Today it is my hope that Dr. Irvin’s keynote address and the remaining Dream Week events help us reflect and act on what we must do as a community to ensure we are inclusive in our efforts to create belonging for all. May you forever love, and be loved.”
January 18 saw the Luther community engaging in a literary venture, with faculty, staff, and students reading to elementary school students, from books on service, leadership, justice, civility and diversity provided by the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES).
In CFL’s Main Hall, chapel services on January 17 and January 19, at 10:30 a.m., echoed King’s legacy and lamented racism, urging the community to actively participate in recognizing and repairing the harm caused by racism, fostering a commitment to ongoing repair and restoration.
Dream Week’s activities were successful thanks to the shared effort of coordinating and facilitating with partners throughout Decorah. Luther’s Institutional Equity, Identity Studies, CIES, marketing and communications, Decorah community school district, and Mayor Borowski all contributed to making this celebration a success. Assistant Dean & Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support Michelle Boike reflected on the impact of Dream Week.
“I would hope that the impact is that, the lectures, the conversation on racial healing, chapel, and then the opportunity to read to elementary kids will help the campus reflect on their experiences around racism, calls to action, supporting people in various diverse ways, and hopefully prompt reflection for participants, and the wider campus community about how they can do their part on making our campus an inclusive and equitable place,” Boike said.
Editor’s Note: A version of this story incorrectly identified Dr. Ervin as an Assistant Professor at Bowdoin College instead of an Associate Professor. The story was updated with the correct title on January 29.
