The Minority Mentor Program (MMP) and Office of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives (ODII) are hosting the Living the Dream March and Tribute on Friday starting at 3:30 p.m. The keynote address will be delivered by Mercer University's Professor of Homiletics, Otis Moss III.
"The theme for this year is the presence of justice," OODI director Ansley Booker said. "We always ask our speakers when they have this audience to really think and reflect on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and provide them with some hope, some inspiration, asking them how we as a collective body as all Mercerians as a community, as a nation can continue to seek out justice for everybody at all times."
Booker said she was hopeful that the large turnouts for events such as Diversity Day and the Multicultural Mixer will continue for the march and address, and that both community members and students will attend. The event, Booker said, is a chance for students to reflect on King's legacy and current events that he would still be advocating about today.
"Whoever can participate, we know that it is on a Friday, but we want this to be a day on, not a day off," Booker said.
Moss was appointed Professor of Homiletics in the McAfee School of Theology during the 2022 fall semester. His accolades include being named to Baylor School of Theology's "12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World" and founding "Unashamed Media." His written works include "Blue Note Preaching in a Post Soul World," "Redemption in the Red Light District" and "The Gospel According to The Wiz."
The march and address are set to conclude by 5 p.m. The march will begin at 3:45 p.m. at the bear statue at the bottom of the University Center steps and will end with the keynote address in Willingham Auditorium.
Henry Keating '24 is a Journalism and History student at Mercer. He has worked at The Cluster as SGA correspondent, State and Local News Editor, Managing Editor and now as the Editor-in-Chief. Henry has held internships at the Macon Newsroom, Macon Telegraph, and Greenville Post and Courier. He enjoys backpacking, rom-coms, pottery and photography.
