Last week, Northfield Mount Hermon celebrated the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events and classroom discussions centered on the Civil Rights movement.
“I think there can be a real tendency to have sort of this ‘one and done’ aspect of [MLK Day],” said James Greenwood, dean of equity and social justice, who helped found NMH’s MLK Week in 2008. “We want to challenge our community and our students to dig a little bit deeper on what we really know about these legacies, and how do we know what we know?”
This year, MLK Week centered its events around the documentary “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.” The film examines the life and legacy of Parks, including her activism and her relationships with others in the Civil Rights community.
In addition to screenings across campus, MLK Week featured classroom discussion about the film. NMH also welcomed speakers Dr. Francis Gourrier and Dr. Bertice Berry to campus, hosted a performance by the Camerata Baltimore gospel choir, and held several student musical performances throughout the week.
Teaching Through Music
No discussion of King and the Civil Rights movement would be complete without acknowledging the central role that the arts – particularly music – has played in social justice activism. The central role that music also plays in campus life at NMH makes it a powerful teaching tool, noted Greenwood.
“Music and the arts are important to who we are and not just in an extracurricular way, but in terms of being an educational pathway,” Greenwood said.
On Jan. 17, the NMH Jazz Band gave a special MLK Week performance in the Blake Atrium. NMH’s World Percussion Ensemble followed on Jan. 20 with a brief performance to open Monday’s all-school meeting. Students and staff were treated to a medley of songs by members of the NMH Band ahead of the keynote address by Berry on Jan. 22.
A highlight of the week’s musical offerings was Camerata Baltimore Gospel Choir’s return to campus on Jan. 21 for a rousing evening performance in Memorial Chapel. Camerata Baltimore also taught a gospel workshop, providing an opportunity for students and other community members to learn the craft, history, and artistry behind gospel music.
“When you think about how much music was a part of the Civil Rights movement, gospel in particular, in continuing to keep people's moods bolstered,” Greenwood said, “being able to bring some sort of connection to that, I think, helps approach these topics in a different way.”
“I think music cleans the filter,” said Berry in her keynote address. “Every life has filters, like the one on the front of a dryer that says, ‘clean before next use.’ The filter is there to pull all the negative experiences away from you, hold them so you can look at them, learn from them and not repeat them.
“If you don't clean your filter, it becomes a window through which you see the world,” she continued. “Anytime you're learning something new, make sure to give yourself a moment to clean your filter.”
In the Classroom
Gourrier, a professor of American studies at Kenyon College, spoke at the Jan. 20 all-school meeting about the often-overlooked family and community members who supported iconic Civil Rights leaders like King and Parks. He also addressed the disconnect between popular narratives around Parks and the real-life complexity of her actions and beliefs.
“Organizing [isn’t] just about people who were born with extraordinary powers or platforms,” Gourrier said. “It’s ordinary people who were willing to make sacrifices and contributions, and that's really supposed to inspire all of us to do the things that these individuals did.”
Gourrier followed up his talk by attending afternoon classes, where he talked with students about the ideas of legacy and American identity.
“This is the essence of American studies,” said Gourrier. “To take these ideas that we think of as natural or dominant and to question and challenge them. To plant the seeds, beyond just the things you study, but in your everyday learning.”
The Power of Story
On Jan. 22, Berry, a sociologist and author, delivered the week’s keynote address, helping students and staff shake off the cold winter morning with a warm blend of humor, empathy, and insight into the value of diversity and collaboration.
“Diversity is not ‘Kumbaya, can't we all get along?’ Diversity is about critical thinking,” Berry said. “Diversity is really this way of becoming our best self.”
Berry highlighted examples from her personal journey, the natural world, and the arts to illustrate the power of story to connect with those around us and inspire change. She encouraged students to embrace the unique threads of their lives and open their hearts and minds to the experiences of others.
“An effective story is an account of the past that's relevant to the present, that gives hope to the future,” said Berry. “Those are the stories that Dr. King told; that's why we're still talking about him all these years later – because even in the midst of what he was going through, he told hopeful stories.”
“Why MLK?”
Reflecting on the week’s events, Sopi Koko ’26 said, “I think the main goal here isn't just ‘Who's MLK?’ but more ‘Why MLK?’ That question does not just entail MLK as a person: it's his goals and how other people have connected to them and to making an impact.”
Koko, who delivered Moment of Silence remarks during the Jan. 20 all-school meeting with her twin sister Loli Koko ’26, said she hoped to draw attention to the role that identity plays in understanding King’s message.
“My identity is connected to everything I do, right?” Koko said. “Whether it's me being Black, me being a twin, me taking whatever classes I have, my identity affects anything I do in some sort of way.”
Koko, who is interested in working to create opportunities for underrepresented communities in STEM fields, said events like MLK Week demonstrate NMH’s commitment to the critical study of equity issues.
Making that personal connection between the legacy of the Civil Rights movement, NMH’s mission as an institution, and the contemporary fight for social justice lies at the heart of MLK Week, said Greenwood.
“When you go back to our founding with D.L. Moody, there's always been this acknowledgement of the importance of diversity, of having people coming from all over the country, all over the globe,” said Greenwood. “In this moment where there is political/social pushback around DEI, I think it's all the more important that we reaffirm our commitment and values to this.”
Photos by Matthew Cavanaugh Photography & Harry van Baaren. See more images from MLK Week on Flickr