Rice reflects on leadership at MLK vigil

By Viola Hsia     1/22/25 2:34am

Rice held a vigil to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jan. 19. The vigil, held in Kraft Hall, included a reception, followed by a series of talks from Rice professors. The Rice Black Men’s Association and Multicultural Community Relations, within the university’s Office of Public Affairs, helped organize the event.

The vigil began with opening remarks from Trey McCray, president of the Rice Black Men’s Association, and a performance of “Lift Every Voice” from Kiana Day Williams. A speech was then given by President Reggie DesRoches. He was then followed by keynote speaker Bernie Banks, the director of the Doerr Institute of Leadership. Banks then had a fireside chat with Sherwin Bryant, the director of the Center for African and African American Studies, who served as the moderator. Closing it all out was a poem by Houston Youth Poet Laureate and Sid Richardson College junior Avalon Hogans. 

DesRoches said that he appreciated the student and community engagement in the event.

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“Sunday night’s MLK Jr. Vigil at Rice was a deeply moving tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy of leadership, resilience and community,” DesRoches wrote in an email to the Thresher. “I am proud of our students for asking such thoughtful questions and for members of the Rice Black Men’s Association and the Office of Public Affairs’ Multicultural Community Relations team for hosting and organizing this wonderful event.”

In his speech, Banks spoke about Dr. King’s message on advocacy, especially looking towards the future.

“The core to Dr. King’s movement was educating people on the things that were transpiring around them, that they thought they had no active role, but that their indifference was actually weakening the fabric of society,” Banks said during the vigil. “Our future resides in today’s young people. Will we challenge them to challenge convention, or will we say, hold the line, don’t let anything change on your watch.”

Ariah Richards, a McMurtry College senior, said she enjoyed attending the event and thinking of the legacy of Dr. King.

“I grew up in Houston, and normally on MLK Day, I would go to a prayer breakfast at my church,” Richards said. “So when I saw they had a vigil this weekend, I really wanted to go. I really enjoyed it, because it reminded me of what [Dr. King] stood for in terms of leadership and service.”

McMurtry senior Julian Riley said that the event also had him reflecting on Dr. King’s resilience as a leader.

“It takes a lot of power — and that doesn’t just pertain to civil rights, that could be in everyday facets of our life — is just being able to stand up for what is right,” Riley said. “That takes a lot of strength, especially when the people that are saying what is wrong are in positions of power, whether it be the majority or literally a position of power above you.”

The vigil was held a day before the national holiday on Monday, Jan. 20. The holiday this year is the same day as the Presidential Inauguration Day.  Richards said that the two happening on the same day presented larger questions about leadership.

“You see the dichotomy of a leader that really led in love versus a leader that seems to be leading in greed,” Richards said. “Things always coexist in the same space, and it’s up to us to decide what side we want to be on.”

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