Volunteers help clear away old growth and prepare the ground for a new growing season at the Oxford Community Garden during the 2023 MLK Day of Service. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
‘Ole Miss 8’ member Kenneth Mayfield to deliver keynote address
The University of Mississippi will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through its annual MLK Day of Service and Martin Luther King Jr dinner and celebration.
Kenneth Mayfield, a member of the “Ole Miss 8” arrested during a 1970 racial protest, is the keynote speaker for the dinner, which takes place Friday, January 12, 2023. The event begins at 6:30 pm in the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union Ballroom.
Admission is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. To register, visit GivePulse or call 662-915-2933.
On January 15, the university, Oxford and Lafayette County communities plan to work together to help improve life in the community during the annual MLK Day of Service and related activities.
Event check-in and kickoff will be at the Jackson Avenue Center, and volunteers will be dispersed to various sites around Oxford. Anyone can register to volunteer through Give Pulse.
Dinner and Celebration
Mayfield was chosen as this year’s speaker because of his connection to the university and lifelong dedication to serving his community and pursuing justice, said Cade Smith, assistant vice chancellor for community engagement.
“We chose to host the dinner on the Friday evening to begin the holiday weekend with fellowship, food, music and an inspirational message,” Smith said. “We also wanted to avoid conflicting with traditional MLK holiday activities in Oxford, including the community-led readings of Dr. King’s ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ at Off Square Books on the Saturday before the holiday and a breakfast, march and memorial service on the morning of the holiday at Second Baptist Church.”
The program will also feature music from The Soul Tones. Guests are encouraged to follow King’s example in serving others while creating a more just and equitable society.
“Dr. King is one of the United States’ greatest heroes,” Smith said. “His legacy includes serving as the Christian moral authority in the modern civil rights movement.
“His leadership joined many others to ensure that the United States finally began to fully live our founding principles by granting civil and human rights to all people regardless of their race.”
Day of Service
The UM Division of Diversity and Community Engagement is organizing the day of service opportunities, which will take place from noon to 5 pm. Volunteers should check in at the Jackson Avenue Center to get work assignments. Each activity is meant to honor the life and legacy of King.
“We hope that through active participation in the community and intentional relationship-building, the annual MLK Day of Service will continue Rev. Dr. King’s legacy of love, service and community,” said Kathryn Kidd, assistant director of community engagement. “We expect to have over 100 volunteers. In addition to students, several families and groups volunteer annually.”
Other scheduled events to honor King’s legacy include:
- Wednesday-Friday (Jan. 10-12) and Jan. 14: Burns-Belfry Museum tours; noon-3 p.m. Call 662-281-9963 for more information.
- Saturday (Jan. 13): Community reading of “Letter From Birmingham Jail”: 5-6 p.m., Off Square Books. Email events@squarebooks.com for details.
- Jan. 15: Annual Oxford/LOU MLK march and program: 10:30 a.m.-noon, Second Missionary Baptist Church. Organized by Eta Zeta chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. For details, email omega@maxsouth.net.
- Jan. 16: Screening and discussion of movie “Selma”: 6:30-9:30 p.m., Burns Belfry Museum. Contact info@oxfordfilmfestival.com for details.
By Edwin B. Smith
