Clarence B. Jones, MLK Commencement Speaker at Fairfield University - a Night To Remember and Celebrate the Legacy

 Last night, February 4th, 2015, Fairfield University celebrated the life of Martin Luther King with a convocation for student writers, faculty, staff, and national heroes. This year, Clarence B. Jones delivered the keynote address and discussed his history with the civil rights movement, his relationship to King - the legacy, and his advice for our nation now that so many years have passed.

My role, as it has been for four years, was to announce the CT Post/Fairfield University MLK Essay context winners: Naseem Moales, Madelyn Kathleen Oller, and William Giovanni Garay, all of Multicultural Magnet in Bridgeport. Fortunate for us, their principal, Dr. Luis Planas was also in attendance and I was able to recognize his vision as well.


After the youth awards were given, Dr. Yohuru Williams (last year's faculty award recipient) and I watched family pride for one of the winners who sat in front of us: first an arm over the shoulder, then a tighter grip of the shoulder, and finally several kisses to the forehead. It was a memorable part of the evening. The 7th and 8th graders were  recognized for their accomplishment in writing about the King and with their understanding of him. All three essays shared epiphanies for doing what is right and for carrying the dream to the next generation.


The entire evening was memorable, including the recognition of my colleagues, Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka and Will Johnson, for their to our campus and contributions to the student body .

Yet, the absolute message for the night was offered by Clarence B. Jones who reflected on Martin Luther King. Jones shared insight about his work with the civil rights leader as a lawyer,  speech writer, and freedom fighter.  Jones compared King to a shooting star and acknowledged that most of us go through life without ever seeing the such brilliance flying through the night or dancing across the sky. He said, "King was this star. There was no one like him before, there is no one like him now, and there is unlikely to be anyone like him in the future. He was like Picaso, Vivaldi, Lincoln, Mozart, and Gallileo. One of a kind. Dynamic. Miraculous."  Jones also emphasized the importance of peace and love, especially in light of violence in today's society: the omnipotence of weapons, the continued brutality on Black youth, and the reality of Black on Black crime. That, he felt, would bother Dr. Martin Luther King the most.

"ALL LIVES MATTER," Dr. Jones repeated. "ALL LIVES MATTER."

The MLK ceremony lasted three hours, but the knowledge Jones shared in the Quick Center will last  longer.

All awardees were deserving. The MLK committee should be thrilled by the turnout, the power of the ceremony, and the amazing behind-the-scenes-work that went into making the event possible.

Congratulations Wiley and Kris! Phenomenal!