Baldwin Honors the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Assembly

Baldwin marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a powerful All-School Assembly on January 16, bringing together students, faculty, and staff to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring vision of justice, unity, and the creation of a Beloved Community. Centered on the theme “Mission Possible: Building Community, Uniting a Nation,” the assembly wove together music, student voices, and a thought-provoking keynote address that challenged the Baldwin community to see Dr. King’s work not as history alone, but as an ongoing call to action.

 

The morning was skillfully guided by student MCs from across all divisions: Lower School students Naomi Karr ’33 and Blake Motley ’34; Middle School students Ionie-Joy Benjamin ’30, Logan Smith ’30, and Sophia Smith ’30; and Upper School students Nina Heverin-Alvarado ’26 and Kayla Rippie ’26. Their leadership reflected the collective spirit of the day—one that spanned ages, experiences, and perspectives.

 

Music set both the tone and the message. The B-Flats and Upper School Chorus opened by leading the audience in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often called the Black National Anthem, inviting the entire community to raise their voices together. Grades 1 and 2 performed a joyful rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” Later, the B-Flats and Upper School Chorus performed “I Am Light,” accompanied by Middle School music teacher Adam Kishbauch on guitar, underscoring themes of hope, dignity, and shared humanity. The first half of the assembly concluded with a moving, school-wide performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” featuring Middle and Upper School choruses, orchestra, bells, and the audience.

 

Student presentations further deepened the assembly’s learning. The Middle School Black Student Union educated the community about Pennsylvania’s newly enacted CROWN Act, signed in November 2025 and going into effect January 24, 2026. The law prohibits discrimination based on hair type, texture, and protective styles, as well as certain religious head coverings, amending the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to protect these traits under race and religious creed. Students emphasized how the law addresses long-standing biases and affirms the right of individuals to show up as their full selves in schools and workplaces. The Upper School Black Student Union followed with a dynamic presentation on Black culture and influence through the decades, highlighting creativity, resilience, and impact across history.

 

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Crystal Lucky ’82, a Baldwin alumna, Professor of English, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, and director of the Africana Studies Program at Villanova University, as well as an ordained elder in the Church of the Living God International. Returning to campus, Dr. Lucky described the experience as “coming home” and offered gratitude to the Baldwin community for continuing to engage thoughtfully with Dr. King’s legacy.

 

Dr. Lucky anchored her remarks in a sermon Dr. King delivered in 1957, “The Birth of a New Nation,” and reflected on why its lessons remain urgently relevant today. Acknowledging the heaviness many feel when confronted with daily news of violence, injustice, and division, she asked the audience to consider their own emotional responses and whether, even amid uncertainty, they believe that building a united nation is still possible.

 

From Dr. King’s sermon, Dr. Lucky pointed out three core truths that she argued are essential to creating a Beloved Community in our time.

 

First, she emphasized Dr. King’s assertion that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded through collective effort. While individual kindness and interpersonal respect matter, Dr. Lucky reminded the audience that systems, not just attitudes, must be examined, challenged, and changed. Building beloved community requires advocacy, unity, and the courage to revise or dismantle structures that perpetuate inequality.

 

Second, Dr. Lucky revisited Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to nonviolence. In a world where violence can begin to feel normalized or inevitable, she urged the Baldwin community to reclaim nonviolence as both a moral stance and a practical strategy for change. Quoting Dr. King, she noted that while violence leaves bitterness and emptiness in its wake, nonviolence makes reconciliation and true community possible.

 

Finally, Dr. Lucky reminded listeners that freedom and unity never arrive easily or quickly. The work of building community demands persistence, struggle, and love. In an age shaped by curated images and instant results, she emphasized that authentic human connection requires patience, humility, and a willingness to think beyond oneself; to consider those we may never meet and to question why inequities persist.

 

Throughout her address, Dr. Lucky returned to a message of hope. While the work is hard and the path uncertain, she affirmed her belief that the mission is, indeed, possible if we choose to accept it.

 

Baldwin’s MLK Jr. Day Assembly was not only a celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy, but also a collective invitation: to reflect, to question, and to commit ourselves to the ongoing work of justice, compassion, and community.