Under the baobab: Banquet, march and more planned in Centre County to honor MLK
“Behold the dreamer comes, let us slay him and throw him into the pit, and see what becomes of his dreams.”- Genesis 37:19
On Jan. 15 the nation will celebrate the 97th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s birth. It is also the first official holiday of the nation’s yearlong semi quincentennial (250th) commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On Nov. 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill first proposed by Representative Katie Hall of Indiana to create a federal holiday honoring King. The holiday was observed for the first time on Jan. 20, 1986. Since then, it is observed on the third Monday of January.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, the Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) will host the 51st MLK Banquet, “Undaunted Hope,” at the Bryce Jordan Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with a start time of 6 p.m. It will be an evening to remember Dr. King’s legacy, with musical entertainment by Penn State students, a spoken word tribute, and recognition of the recipients of the Fannie Lou Hamer and WEB Dubois Service/Leadership Scholarship. Tickets may be purchased at the BJC.
On Monday, Jan. 19, MLK’s legacy will be further honored by a National Day of Service at Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers participate in activities to help the local community. The day is considered a day “on, not a day off,” dedicated to constructive community action. Day of Service events are also planned at the State College YMCA from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
As quoted by Dr. King, “anyone can be great because anyone can serve.”
The following day, Tuesday, Jan. 20, the MLK Commemoration Committee and Borough of State College invites the community to the 2026 memorial march, which will begin at 3:45 p.m. at the MLK Plaza in downtown State College. Before the march, there will be inspirational messages by State College Mayor Ezra Nanes and a Penn State student. The march will end at the HUB-Robeson Center. A panel discussion on social reception begins at 4:45 p.m. in Freeman Auditorium.
Around town and beyond
Congrats to the Penn State men’s basketball team, which came within a rim of defeating Michigan, the No. 2 nationally ranked team. Our No. 1 ranked wrestling team remains unbeaten.
The end of the season highlights bowl games and award shows. I was one of the SAG nominators for the film acting awards. I spent the last few months reviewing almost 200 feature films to recommend best, supporting, ensemble and stunt acting. I picked over half of the final nominees. The winners will be announced on TV and at the ceremony on March 1.
And the resistance continues and grows. A couple of dozen neighbors protested outside Congressman Glenn Thompson’s Bellefonte office on Tuesday between noon and 1 p.m. Lighting Candles for Peace gathers on Mondays at the Allen Street gates from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and a U.S. citizen, was shot and killed in the front seat of her car by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross. Vice President JD Vance the Trump administration has declared that the shooting was justified, that officer Ross fired in self-defense. Both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey strongly disagreed and say possible criminal liability by ICE may have caused her death. Footage recorded at the time seems to confirm the Walz and Frey version.
This is an American tragedy. An unarmed protester was gunned down by a federal government official just a couple of miles from where George Floyd was strangled to death by a police officer. Sisters and brothers, this is not the America we want. It is not the heritage we want to leave our children. It is not the dream of King. It is not the hope undaunted or otherwise. We the people can do better and we will.
Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.