MLK Day Message from President Felecia M. Nave
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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On Monday, January 16, Alcorn State University will join the nation in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In so doing, we honor the life and legacy of one of the most significant figures in modern American history.
In 2023, the nation continues to grapple with issues of race, and it moves us to honor and remember Dr. King, who did so much to promote equality of opportunity, social justice, and respect for human dignity.
The brilliance of his leadership, advocacy, and nonviolent civil disobedience were instrumental in fighting segregation and promoting the right to vote. His work and commitment to antiracism continue to inspire and serve as a model for social change.
Dr. King said, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." So, when we honor his legacy, let us choose to spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day reflecting on how each of us can advance the values he stood for in our lives and the communities we serve.
As was Dr. King, the Alcorn community is dedicated to everyone’s inherent worth and equality of opportunity – both on our campus and throughout society.
Here at Alcorn, we work to illustrate that our values show in the daily experiences of each member of our university family. Dr. King’s life exemplifies how our experiences come not through belief alone but through consistent actions that create space for all voices to be heard. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for sustaining that kind of environment.
So today, as we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us also remember our responsibilities to each other. By living up to those responsibilities, we will uphold the dream and continue making Alcorn State University a community of learning, service, and distinction.
Please join us on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. as we honor Dr. King’s Legacy with a march and program sponsored by the Offices of Educational Equity and Inclusion/Diversity and Student Engagement, which will begin at the Oakland Memorial Chapel.
If you have not already committed to a community service project, I encourage you to exercise at least one small act of kindness toward a neighbor or loved one.
Yours in Service,
Dr. Felecia M. Nave
President
