College Publisher Test Site

Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Mike Miller DO THE ROSA PARKS: During her lecture, Ms. Nikki Giovanni discussed a range of topics, including, the important role women had in the Civil Rights movement, and was critical of George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

Monday dawned cold and rainy, but that did not prevent nearly 100,000 people from turning out for the annual Martin Luther King Junior March through San Antonio's eastside. 134 members of the Trinity community represented their school and several others manned the KRTU booth along the route.

King died in April 1968, almost 40 years ago. However, his fights against segregation and poverty and his role as a prominent human rights activist continue to inspire the largest crowd in the country to turn out in San Antonio year after year for the three-mile trek down Martin Luther King Drive.
"One of the reasons the march continues is that people realize the struggle is not over," said David Spener, associate professor of sociology. "They pick up the torch and continue where King left it."
Spener said that King agitated for change using the founding documents of this country, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, in addition to the sacred religious texts that he was able to incorporate through his role as a minister. Progress is a founding ideal of this country. According to Spener, and over the centuries since its inception there has been progressive inclusion of the unincluded: women, blacks, non-property owners.
Spener said that he comes out year after year to be a part of the march because he recognizes that the job is not finished yet.
"[Marching] is about remind-ing yourself and reminding the world that this is not forgotten and we are not alone," Spener said.
Carey Latimore, associate professor of history, said that his mother marched and participated in sit-ins and so he sees his involvement as being part of a line of people who came before him.

Latimore said that he reminds himself of the struggles that face the black community as he walks. The issues of lunch counters and public transportation are not at the forefront anymore, Latimore said. But the problems of health care, HIV and AIDS and the extremely high rate at which black men are incarcerated form the basis of challenges that are of importance today.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools