Maya Angelou's timeless poem, "Still I Rise," was the inspiration for the theme of this year's Martin Luther King Commemoration service at the University of Chicago, the apex of the University's annual celebration of the life and legacy of King.

The Jan. 15 event featured a keynote address by Melissa Harris-Lacewell of Princeton University.

According to Ana Vazquez, Deputy Dean of Students in the University and Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, this year's commemoration differed slightly from those in past years.

"Students, both undergraduate and graduate, were very engaged in the planning of the MLK Commemoration Service this year," Vazquez said. Students were involved in every aspect, including choosing a theme, which had a new twist this year. "For example, this is the first time we've had a theme that did not come directly from a quote from Dr. King," she said.

Instead, the theme came from Angelou's poem:

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Angelou's work speaks to the ongoing issues of violence that young people around the nation face, even as progress is made toward King's vision. Vazquez said students "wanted a speaker who could address the issues of youth and violence that are devastating so many communities as well as someone who could link this important issue to King's non-violent approach in fighting for civil rights."

The students chose Harris-Lacewell, an Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University, author of the award-winning book Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought, a frequent guest on national television shows and a past Political Science faculty member at UChicago.

"Melissa Harris-Lacewell was selected by the committee because she has well-established connections to the University of Chicago, is a well-known national scholar, and would be an engaging and provocative speaker," said Vazquez.

Following the service at Rockefeller, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs hosted its annual MLK Reception at Ida Noyes Hall, featuring the musical group Soul Umoja, spoken-word artists as well as student performances.

Vazquez said the University's MLK celebration also is kicking off events for Black Heritage Month that will take place in January and February.

"We're hoping that this commemoration will launch a great month of interesting events for the entire campus," Vazquez said.

By Tom Alexander