By Brenda Sutherlin
The Black Student Alliance hosted the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program on the Calhoun Community College Campus in Decatur, Alabama. The program was held in the Advance Technology Center on January 19, 2022. There were approximately fifty people in attendance. The program opened with a stirring rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing by the Calhoun Chorale conducted by Mr. Granville Oldham.
Mr. William Hampton, a native of Huntsville-Madison County, Alabama was the guest speaker. He is the founder of Huntsville Museum Revisited, a local history museum in Huntsville, Alabama that opened in June 2020. Because of his fascination with stories and history he has a lifelong love of history.
Mr. Hampton opened his presentation with a video clip of Nina Simone singing, The King is Dead. At the conclusion of the video Mr. Hampton pondered the title and asked the question, “What are we going to do now that the king of love is dead?” He went on to say that Dr. King is dead but the King of Love is not dead.
“Jesus is the King of Love he is alive and we should continue the dream of Dr. King. We should exhibit the drum major instinct by speaking peace, and having a spirit of service. We should continue the struggle for equality because there is disharmony among Americans. We should continue following the examples of Jesus just as Dr. King followed them,” Hampton said.
Growing up in a Christian home Mr. Hampton read a portion of scripture from the Bible. Genesis 37:19-21(KJV), “And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”
Mr. Hampton’s challenge to the audience was to do the right thing. He said that America should honor her promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. “We can participate in this process through showing righteousness and encouraging fairness.,” Hampton said.
In closing, he talked about his ancestors and the racism that they experienced in Madison County, Alabama. Despite their conditions they instilled in their children Christian principles to live by. He spoke of a motto that he acquired from his great-grand father, “no turning around.” Mr. Hampton said he believes in the importance of doing the right thing, do what you are supposed to do, love. “We do not have to play golf with those who do not like us, or even like those who do not like us, we must love,” Hampton said.