At Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where 19 percent of students are black and 33 percent are from more than 60 countries, Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of racial harmony rings true.
But Kellogg student Trisha Maguire on Monday reminded students that they need to take advantage of this diversity.
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘What does our closest circle of friends look like? Does it look like Dr. King’s dream?'” said Maguire, a Kellogg Christian Fellowship member.
During a panel discussion at Coon Forum, Maguire and six other Kellogg students representing various cultural groups said King’s message is relevant to all ethnicities – not just blacks.
Maguire said King’s teachings should impact the way people feel about each other as much as his teachings have forwarded civil rights legislation.
“You can’t legislate love, human decency and compassion,” Maguire said.
Hispanic Business Student Association’s Alumni Relations co-Chair Chris Gonzales said his father, a first-generation Mexican-American, was inspired by hearing King’s speeches over the radio. King stood up for Latinos as well as blacks, Gonzales said.
“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the influence of Dr. King,” he said.
Alejandro Scopelli, president of the Latin American, Hispanic and Iberian Management Association, said people have learned not to be afraid of other races because of King’s non-violent form of protest.
“The legacy of Martin Luther King cries out to say, ‘No, (people) are not that different. You should not be afraid,'” Scopelli said.
Asian Management Association Social co-Chair Margaret Quan said that though King has helped Asian Americans overcome racism from earlier this century, they must continue breaking stereotypes to make the world less prejudiced for their children.
Ursula Wright, president of the Black Management Association, and Jonathan Glaser, co-chair of Business with a Heart communications, both said King’s work for minorities needs to be continued at the corporate level.
“In the business world, glass ceilings have replaced closed doors,” Wright said.
Jorge Aguayo, Kellogg’s Graduate Management Association’s international vice president, said people should act on King’s message and help people in poorer nations, such as his in home country, the Dominican Republic.
“How can we talk about voter rights when people don’t have food to eat?” he asked. “If we help people live with dignity rather than just speaking about it, Dr. King’s message can be spread worldwide.”
After the panel discussion, two Kellogg a cappella groups sang tributes to King, and Kellogg students gathered outside Coon for chocolate and vanilla cakes adorned with King’s face.
