Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘dream’
The following is edited text of a “Statement of Commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.” that President Richard C. Levin sent to the Yale community on Jan. 18.
As we mark the national holiday for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, we are reminded of his visit to Yale in
June 1964 to receive an Honorary Degree. Dr. King’s citation noted
that his “eloquence has kindled the nation’s sense of outrage” at
the racial discrimination that remained tragically embedded in so many parts
of America.
We take stock of the progress made in the last four decades — progress
made possible by his work before his tragic assassination 40 years ago and
by the inspiration of his living legacy ever since. We remind ourselves of
the conditions of violence and struggle that marked the civil rights era of
the 1960s, and at the same time we are mindful of the stubborn reality that
our nation has not yet achieved the dream to which Dr. King gave so much inspiration,
as well as his own life.
We should, of course, celebrate progress. But we should also rededicate ourselves
to the still unfinished work that Dr. King called upon all of humanity to pursue — to
overcome “the long night of racial injustice” and establish a reign
of freedom and a rule of justice for all people.
Although we at Yale and elsewhere observe the King holiday as a day without
classes or normal staff duties, I encourage all of us to take this not as a
mere “day off” but to make it a special day to renew our personal
and collective commitment to racial, social, and economic justice and to reflect
on how our collective diversity contributes to the strength of our institution
and the richness of our individual lives. We should resolve to deepen our efforts
to promote inclusion and to build on our campus a community where diversity
of all types is celebrated and recognized as a precious asset. …
This past fall, we were reminded that our work to bring unity and justice is
not finished as the campus saw two acts of disturbing racist and homophobic
graffiti. I was gratified by the widespread concern expressed by students,
faculty, staff, and alumni in response to these incidents. Our community will
best rid itself of hateful attitudes by speaking out against them.
Dr. King had a dream that one day all children would live in a nation where
they were judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character, and this dream has particular importance for our academic community.
We can all be proud that Yale was home to Edward Bouchet, the first African-American
to earn a Ph.D. in 1876, but we must remember that for most of the institution’s
history, Yale was not a diverse place and Bouchet’s personal achievement
was an extraordinary one.
In the 1960s, moved by Dr. King and others, Yale among many academic institutions
recognized the need to overcome a history of discrimination and began in earnest
to identify and encourage African-American and other minority group applicants.
The diversity of our matriculants has increased markedly over the decades,
and we now have a deeply-rooted and broad commitment to maintaining that diversity.
This year’s freshman class is the most diverse in Yale’s 306-year
history. Yale College students come from many races and ethnic groups, represent
numerous religious faiths and hail from all 50 states and 42 nations. From
these diverse backgrounds come varied points of view, and each student’s
education is enriched by respectful encounters with those who have had different
experiences and who hold different beliefs.
Our commitment to diversity has been a priority for the faculty. As Yale’s
tercentennial neared, then Provost Richard and I renewed our dedication to
Dr. King’s dream by expanding our efforts to achieve greater diversity
among the faculty. Provost Hamilton and I reaffirmed that commitment two years
ago. Through collaboration with individual departments, the representation
of women faculty and faculty of color has since increased. Under the leadership
of the newly appointed Deputy Provost for Faculty Development, Judith Chevalier,
we are further increasing our focus on inclusion of faculty members of all
races. We will persist in these efforts among the faculties in the Arts and
Sciences and in the professional schools.
Most recently, I have made recruitment of more men and women of color to the
administrative ranks an important priority. As is the case with the student
body, we strive to make the presence of exceptional staff from diverse backgrounds
the rule rather than the exception in management. All of the Officers of the
University are committed to building on the current foundation and to working
with the Deans and Directors to recruit and hire outstanding women and people
of color for senior management positions throughout the University. Nydia Gonzalez,
Yale’s first Chief Diversity Officer, was appointed last year, and she
has been developing plans to realize this objective.
Our actions to strengthen inclusion and diversity on campus complement our
work with our neighbors throughout New Haven to make our hometown a better
place to live and work for all its citizens. In this area, too, we have made
great progress and have helped give life to the dreams that Dr. King left for
us. As recently as 1985, a journalist writing about campus and community relations
noted that Yale was “impervious” to the Dixwell neighborhood, a
historic heart of the African-American community.
Today, we and our neighbors are removing those barriers and have forged a lasting
partnership. This new era is reflected in our Dixwell-Yale University Community
Learning Center, a Yale facility at the new University Police headquarters
featuring large glass walls that welcome hundreds of children and adults every
week for learning and recreation programs. The center is part of our comprehensive
community investment program that was described by the New York Times in December
in an article titled “Yale and New Haven Find Common Ground.” Roxanne
Condon, chair of the neighborhood management team in Dixwell, was quoted in
the Times saying, “Now everybody is realizing that we are in this together,
that if the community improves, that improves Yale because Yale benefits from
the improvement of the community. It’s a whole new mind-set.” This
perspective is one that we all share, as good neighborliness has become our
rule and routine.
At this time of reflection and rededication for the King Holiday, I am heartened
by the progress our society and our university have made. We owe thanks to
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., since more than almost any other American, he
gave the enduring inspiration for opening wide the doors of opportunity and
possibility for all people. As we reflect now, 44 years since Dr. King came
to Yale and became an honorary alumnus, let us take inspiration from his living
legacy, let us appreciate the progress that has been made because of his service
and sacrifice and, most importantly, let us rededicate ourselves to persist
in the work that remains to make the American dream a reality for all.
T H I S
IN MEMORIAM
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 17% . . .
New endowed chair honors Marie Borroff
Initiative to boost humanities-professional school interaction
Faculty survey to be starting point for ‘self-evaluation’
In Focus: Peking-Yale Joint Undergraduate Program
Forming bonds in China: Students hail their immersion experience
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPSYale Press to create digital edition of Soviet leader Stalin’s . . .
Switzerland tops experts’ index of global environmental leaders
Levin urges rededication to Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘dream’
Paula Vogel to head School of Drama’s playwriting department
Study shows elderly with low vitamin E levels are . . .
Researchers identify key factor in stress effects on the brain
Exhibits explore British artists’ images of the Middle East
Drama School stages Ibsen’s ‘Peer Gynt,’ an exploration of . . .
Poetry and visual arts are united in library exhibitions’ . . .
Teaching fellowship winners are urged to ‘create passion’
H. Bradford Westerfield: Intelligence expert, taught top leaders
Victor Erlich: Helped bring Slavic department to prominence
R. Lansing Hicks: Renowned at YDS for his teaching, integrity
Parker Po-Fei Huang: Poet and pioneer in Chinese . . .
Yale Books in Brief
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home