On January 16, 2023, our country will pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his legacy of advancing the cause of civil rights for all Americans.
In 1983, Martin Luther King Day was established as a federal holiday and ultimately recognized in all fifty states by the year 2000. Its purpose is to honor a remarkable individual who championed equal rights in the face of dangerous opposition, and also to honor the values he stood for—truth, justice, perseverance, public service, non-violence, and the triumph of love over hate.
The UA Little Rock mission supports these values in its dedication to “use knowledge in ways that will contribute to society,” to apply our resources and skills in service to our community, and to “promote humane sensitivities and understanding of interdependence.” We support equal opportunity through our efforts to provide access to an affordable quality education, and through a variety of resources to help all students persevere and attain success.
As we look forward to celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I invite you to consider the role these values play in your own lived experience, for it falls to us to continue the work of becoming the world that Dr. King believed we could be.
I will leave you with a quote from Dr. King’s 1967 Christmas Sermon where he said,
“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”
A university is a great place to do that. I hope you will join in learning to appreciate the differences that make us unique and the values that ultimately bring us together.