Speaker shares messages of light and love

YOUNGSTOWN -- Racism, hatred, corruption, degradation and numerous other ills may add layers of darkness to society, but people standing as beacons of light will always have the final word in the battle, a local minister contends.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; but only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hatred; only love can do that," the Rev. Juan M. Rivera said during his keynote presentation for a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance Thursday in the Chestnut Room at Youngstown State University's Kilcawley Center. "Every single time light stands next to darkness, light wins."

A few hundred students, community leaders, activists and others came to the one-hour gathering, which was mainly to embrace, celebrate, observe and honor King's legacy of service to and support of people from all backgrounds.

In his speech, Rivera, pastor of Victory Christian Center in Coitsville, echoed some of the late civil rights leader's rhetoric, challenging audience members to be a light to others, regardless of their majors, gender, backgrounds and other circumstances. He also stressed to his listeners that they have value and purpose.

King consistently displayed the redemptive power of light and love while battling segregation in the Deep South, so it's important for people today to use their examples and inner power to love one another and avoid apathy, said Rivera, who also serves on the National Hispanic Leadership Conference, the Hispanic-Israel Leadership Coalition and the Ohio Commission of Hispanic / Latino Affairs.

"Be a light by who you are," said Rivera, who also cited Genesis 1:2 and 1:3, which talk about how the world was under a roaring ocean of darkness before God commanded light to shine, then separated it from darkness.

Before Rivera's address, four Martin Luther King Service Leadership Awards were given.

Receiving the Emerging Leader and Student Leader awards were, respectively, Malik Montgomery, a YSU sophomore majoring in music technology and recording, and Jasmine Smyles, a YSU senior and exercise-science major.

The Campus Leader Award went to Crystal Hawthorne, the university's coordinator of teacher licensure and advisor for the Minority Education Association. The Community Leader Award recipient was 21-WFMJ TV. Accepting the honor was Madonna Chism Pinkard, Channel 21's community-relations director.

"We do a lot of diversity programs and have a committee on equity and inclusion work," Hawthorne explained.

In addition, the Minority Education Association handles social-justice issues and has held recent workshops on poverty and bullying. The MEA also is trying to launch a teacher-cadet initiative at East High School largely to diversify the teacher workforce, and about 10 East High students are part of that effort, Hawthorne noted.

Jacci Johnson, assistant director of YSU's Student Diversity Programs, said she strongly feels that if he was alive, King would fully embrace and celebrate a coalition of people who also are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. In addition, the civil rights leader and humanitarian would be a "blunt realist" and recognize then acknowledge that everyone should be included in such an effort, she continued.

"It would have been a non-issue," said Johnson, who added that King might be disappointed that too often in today's fast-paced, high-tech society, little time and "intellectual space" are set aside for deep, meaningful conversations about race and other related issues.

Additional remarks were from Marla Hergenrother of YSU Students United, who said the organization is to host an event Feb. 12 about fostering greater appreciation for different races and ethnicities.

Thursday's observance also featured the Voices of YSU vocal group, which gave its rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which was an anthem of the civil rights movement. The program concluded with everyone locking arms and singing "We Shall Overcome," which also was sung frequently in the movement.

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