‘A moment of history’: Students in D.C. for 60th anniversary of MLK speech

Over 60 students attended the 60^th anniversary of the March on Washington in D.C. (Special to The Panther)

Students from Claflin University joined thousands on Aug. 26 in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The March on Washington is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream speech” in 1963.

Claflin’s Student Government Association partnered with the National Action Network to send students to D.C.

Among them were juniors Amari Walker and Charles Wofford, and senior Noah Thomas.

Walker says it was inspiring “to go to a place where, just 60 years ago, very prominent freedom fighters were fighting for our freedom and rights."

Although they were unable to march due to scheduling conflicts, it was still a “captivating” experience, Walker said.

"There were so many older people yelling to us, ‘Y’all are our future.’ It made me realize how important it was for us to be there,” she said.

Various speeches concerning justice, education and activism were given at the ceremony held at the Lincoln Memorial. Speakers included representatives from the “Divine Nine” organizations and human rights groups.

"Going there, hearing all of the speeches, seeing some of the signs they had -- I felt like that was a moment of history," Wofford said.

He says attending the event reminded him that "you're never too young to fight the fight."

"HBCU students were always important in the civil rights movement," Wofford said.

Thomas says the speeches motivated students to “continue being champions for justice.”

“As students who attend HBCUs, we are in a very unique and powerful position. We are being educated at places that were sites of civil rights activism,” he said.

The students also visited the National Museum for African American History and Culture, the only national museum dedicated solely to documenting the plight of African Americans.

For Walker, the museum’s slavery exhibits were most memorable.

"It's a very difficult topic to hear about, read about or talk about. I really appreciate how the museum did not hesitate to share that information," she said.

Thomas says the museum’s section on Black theology was “really powerful to me.”

“I am someone who identifies as a Black Christian. So just learning about the ways that Black people's belief in God served as the foundation for their activism was inspirational,” Thomas said.

Wofford recalls seeing Claflin and D9 memorabilia at the museum. But what stuck out to him the most was an exhibit featuring a dress made of quilts.

"It reminded me of my family. Before my great-grandmother passed, she would make quilts for us when we got married," he said.

Wofford says it was a reminder "to remember the sacrifices of those that came before us and never forget them."

"We have shared similarities through our culture, heritage and quilting," he said.