College Coffee celebrates MLK’s legacy as a “drum major of peace”

A crowd of about 100 gathered in McKinnon Hall midday Tuesday and quickly found themselves clapping, chanting and dancing as they joined the African American Dance Ensemble of Durham, N.C., in an interactive cultural lesson.

<span style=”font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.6495132446289px;”>The African American Dance Ensemble performed at a special College Coffee celebrating the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.</span>[/caption]The group’s mission is to preserve and share African and African American dance and music.  With dance and dialogue as their tools, the troupe taught the audience about African culture, aesthetics and values. The goal is to encourage cross-cultural cooperation and understanding.

The College Coffee celebrated in King’s honor traditionally celebrates his legacy through the arts, and the African American Dance Ensemble continues that tradition through dance, said Jamie Butler, assistant director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (The CREED).

“At the core of their performance, is a message of peace,” she said. “In a time of unrest, we especially wanted that value to resonate.”

The Jan. 20 “Beloved Community College Coffee,” sponsored by Elon’s Office of Student Activities, is part of a series of programs this week focused on the slain civil rights leader’s message of human rights and economic justice for all people regardless of race, creed or nationality.

The 40-minute performance featured a processional through the audience, a lesson in percussion and a celebration dance that brought several Elon students, staff and administrators to the stage.

The troupe ended the performance by bringing the audience to its feet in a call for “peace, love, respect for everybody.”

Immediately following College Coffee, about 30 students dropped to the floor of McKinnon Hall for a four-minute “die-in.” The peaceful demonstration mirrored similar events across the country calling for an end to what protestors say is widespread police brutality.

“If we don’t do something, then it’s on us, then nothing will change,” said Ciera Martinez ’15. “We have to show that we care.”

As they lay on the floor, some students closed their eyes, while others stared at the ceiling as if in reflection. The quiet demonstration was punctuated only by the sound of muffled tears. After four minutes, the students stood up and many regrouped to reflect on the experience.

Students initiated a &quot;die-in&quot; as part of a nationwide movement against what protestors say is widespread police brutality.[/caption]​“We wanted to do this in a way that showed our respect for Dr. King,” said Imani Mobley ’16. “This isn’t the end. This is the beginning and we won’t stop until things change. Dr. King didn’t stop, so why should we?”