A North Carolina civic activist and former mayor of Charlotte challenged students on Wednesday to not just reexamine their personal goals, but to then exceed them, while reaching beyond the Elon campus to give back to their communities. Harvey B. Gantt was the keynote speaker for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program.
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But more than four decades after King’s assassination, many people have lost sight of his ideals, Gantt said. He described two troubling trends in recent years: The willingness of some people to treat the King holiday each January as a paid holiday but then grumble with the bitterness of the civil rights era, and, on the other hand, the “romanticizing” of King’s life that neglects to examine his messages.
“There are people out there who need your help today … and they run the gamut from homeless children to drug-addicted adults,” Gantt said.
As Obama prepares for his Inauguration this month, Gantt urged his audience not to get caught up in the celebrations – which, he said, are also important – without reflecting on the way Obama’s election to lead the United States is another step closer to the fulfillment of King’s dream.
The noontime program also recognized the two winners of the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Essay Contest sponsored by the Multicultural Center. This year marked the first time since the contest began in 2001 that two students were selected winners. They are:
Stephanie Marie Daniel of Blessed Sacrament School
Excerpt: “I have always tried to keep in mind that fairness is looking out for others when they need help or not expecting something when the person giving is not receiving. Peace is something that we have to start ourselves and then spread it. And social justice can make someone feel better about their beliefs. In fact all of these things play an important role in life. I will always believe these things.”
Anna Paige Kirby of River Mill Academy
Excerpt: “What I really want to know is why adults have to take such drastic measures to get their point across while mere children can get along in mostly the same scenario. Recently in my school we had an election to decide on a middle school student council. This was something that I believe we needed in the middle school to express our views and freedom of speech, even as children. In the election there were boys and girls of all colors, shapes and sizes. There were no fights or arguments about who was chosen because everyone was treated equally and everyone got to make their own choices. That is what Dr. King wanted to tell us.”
Born in Charleston, Gantt made history in 1963 when, under court order, he became the first black student to attend a previously all-white school in South Carolina by enrolling at Clemson University. He graduated with honors and a degree in architecture. Five years later, he received his mater’s degree from MIT.
Gantt co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects in Charlotte and has been honored numerous times with local, regional and national design awards. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects. Gantt has been a lecturer and visiting critic at college and universities across the United States.
A political activist since 1974, Gantt served three terms on the Charlotte City Council before becoming the city’s mayor from 1983 to 1987. He twice challenged incumbent U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms (1990 and 1996) and, while unsuccessful in both bids, won national attention for his positions on education, health care and the environment.
Gantt has been a board member of several organizations, including the Foundation for the Carolinas, CPCC Foundation and the Charlotte Center City Partners. He is married to the former Lucinda Brawley. They have four adult children.