Martin Luther King, Jr. week will be celebrated at Washington State University with a drum circle, poetry, art, a panel discussion, and a keynote speech. Equally important, however, is the chance for people to come together and talk. That’s especially true on the National Day of Racial Healing, as the day after the MLK holiday has come to be known.
“I hope this day helps us foster understanding and compassion, bringing our WSU community closer together,” said Trymaine Gaither, special assistant to the provost for inclusive excellence.
The theme of this year’s events is Keep on Pushing: Building Bridges to Sustainability, which was developed by WSU’s Black Student Union.
While “sustainability” is often thought of in the context of the environment, here it means something more, Gaither said: “What must we do today to ensure future generations have a world that meets their needs tomorrow?”
Chayanne Iyun, president of the Black Student Union, is an education major at WSU who wants to teach high school history. He said healing first requires learning.
“This is an opportunity to learn where people of color are coming from, and gives us an opportunity to come together as a community,” he said.
Amina Hussein, a political science student and director of community affairs for the Associated Students of WSU, will be part of a panel discussion on the National Day of Racial Healing. She said she sees it as a day for marginalized communities to learn from each other, too.
“When I was speaking to panel members recently, it seemed like we all had this same sort of narrative,” she said. “There’s a reliance on community, on the ability to step back and have your community catch you.”
Sharing experiences, listening and learning can only lead to progress, Gaither said.
As a university, a community and as a nation, “We are capable of doing difficult things, we can rise above our past if we work together.” He added, “We need to build longer bridges, not taller walls.”
