First African-American elected as state governor to speak

One night every January, the Show Me Center is filled with students, politicians, teachers and community members as they gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Southeast Missouri State University will be holding its seventh annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

"It's a great opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," Dr. Sophia Scott, assistant to the president for Equity and Diversity Issues at Southeast, said.

Scott has been involved with the dinner since its beginning. She said the goal of the dinner is to bring attention to diversity in Cape Girardeau.

"We always have fantastic speakers that empower the audience to take action and to really value the differences among us," Scott said.

L. Douglas Wilder, a former Virginia governor, will speak after this year's dinner. Wilder, who was elected in January of 1990, was the first African-American to become a state governor in the United States.

"That's a pretty big deal, when you realize that it was only 20 years ago," Brandi Brooks, co-chair for the dinner's committee, said. "I'm sure he's got some very interesting takes on what's going on politically, what has happened and how it kind of meshes together."

Guests will be entertained by several performances from theater and dance students Dominique Thomas and Whitney Buckner. A video, in which students speak about the effects King has had on their lives, will also be shown.

"We went to the students and asked them to write a really short essay on how Martin Luther King has affected them and their families and what it means for their futures," Brooks said.

Four students were selected to read their essays on camera. A fifth student, LaShawna Samuel, volunteered to edit the video and will also film the dinner.

"It's very gratifying for me to see the results," Southeast Video Services manager David Andrews said.

"I'm very proud to be a part of this," Andrews said. "There really is a wonderful camaraderie between all people. If you love diversity and you love to feel an electricity in the room from working together with people and coming to a good point in life, this is the place to be."

Doors will open for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner at 5 p.m., and the dinner and entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Wilder will speak after the dinner. The event is free for students with a Southeast ID and costs $15 for community members. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at the Show Me Center box office.