MLK Day
Monday Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We commemorate the birth of the nation’s most revered civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. His non-violent efforts to fight segregation in the South and organization of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference earned him a Nobel Peace Prize and a position in American history as one of the pre-eminent leaders of social justice.
Dr. King’s legacy thrives in communities across America, but in recent years a growing chasm has emerged in race relations. The shootings of unarmed black men, a recognition of the need for reform of what some call a racially biased justice system, an economic structure that falls short of addressing the needs of minorities and the working class and gross disparities in educational and residential opportunities represent just a few of the issues facing African-American communities in 2017. This, coupled with an incoming president who attracted very little support from Black America, presents a multitude of issues that require civil discussion.
Sandra Thompson / Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El / Minister Trey DuPont
On Smart Talk, we address these issues and civil rights today with several leaders from Central Pennsylvania’s African-American communities. Joining us are Sandra Thompson, President of the York Chapter of the NAACP; Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El, Professor of psychology and African-American studies at Millersville University; and Rev. Trey DuPont, Director of Youth Services with the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Harrisburg.
We will look back at the enduring legacy of Dr. King and forward to the future of community relations in Pennsylvania.
