The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble’s voices warmed those who gathered on the steps of Hendricks Chapel Monday night to partake in the Gospel Extravaganza and Candlelight Vigil, a part of the weeklong Dr. Martin Luther King celebration.

However, few people turned out to participate in the event, which created a new spin on the message of Dr. King.

‘I think (the low turnout) speaks to the social fabric of having a dream,’ said Alpha Phi Alpha brother Bennison Ntsakey, whose fraternity assisted with the event. ‘Dreams don’t get evolved on their own.’

Many are familiar with King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, but after the meager turnout Monday night, organizers were left disappointed as they emphasized people must take the first step in making dreams become a reality.

‘We need to caution the community at large about making dreams master and thoughts aim,’ said Michael G. Cox, Alpha Phi Alpha president. ‘We need dreams, but there’s another side of those dreams. We misunderstand the concept of a dream, but we need to hold onto the legacy and not be fooled by the rhetorical difference.’

Despite the disappointing attendance, the show still went on to a rapt audience. The choir members ignored their chattering teeth by showing off strong, powerful voices. The choir looked at peace, clapping and dancing along while singing. The group sang traditional gospel songs like ‘Holy is the Lord’ and ‘Do You Know Him?’

”Do You Know Him?’ is significant during this week, which celebrates the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., because a lot of the time things in Dr. King’s past are glazed over,’ Cox said. ‘He went through a lot of struggle, people really challenged him, and in turn, he made others question who they are and what they are about. We need to be steadfast in practice, know our convictions and keep things in alignment.’

The candlelight vigil added a somber mood to the event, reminding attendees that while Dr. King propelled the Civil Rights Movement and helped create much social change, his life was still lost in the process.

‘Martin Luther King Day isn’t a black holiday. It’s a human holiday,’ said Ntsakey. ‘To say it is, is to say freedom, equality and social change is just a black ideal. We need to strive for moral excellence within ourselves. If we do that, we can live the dream.’

Published on January 21, 2008 at 12:00 pm