MLK Day: Claflin students speak out
By:
Jan 29, 2026
‘Extremely relevant for college students today’
By KOREY MCCASKILL
Martin Luther King Jr. Day remains highly relevant for college students today, according to Claflin University students.
Classes were canceled on MLK Day, Jan. 19, and some students chose to honor the day through service.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day remains extremely relevant for college students today,” said Olivia Stinney, a sophomore majoring in early childhood education.
Stinney said the holiday encourages students to reflect on education, activism and community.
“It emphasizes the importance of education and service,” Stinney said. “As young adults, it is imperative that we take part in a chance to make change.”
In remembrance of King, students are also reminded of his lasting impact during the civil rights movement.
“If he didn’t fight for equality, then we couldn’t and wouldn’t be in the spaces we are today, doing the things we are doing today,” Claflin student Savana Brown said.
Brown, a sophomore majoring in psychology and sociology, emphasized the importance of continued advocacy.
“It’s highly important to advocate for civil rights among people of color,” Brown said. “Not just of them but also for LGBTQIA+, women, disabled people and the less fortunate.”
While MLK Day was a day off for some, others are reminded that it should also be a day of service.
Kemauri Shyne Joseph, a sophomore majoring in applied math and engineering, said the holiday represents hope.
“Firstly, students have the day off, so it’s a given. However, the more important note is that the day serves as a reminder to everyone that feels disadvantaged that there is hope.”
During MLK Day, Stinney and Jospeh participated in giving back to the community and campus through a cleanup organized by the Claflin University Student Government Association and Claflin Student Engagement and Leadership.
Serving as an act of love
By MYAH BURT
Doing community service is more than just a title or something to brag about; it is truly a recognition of love, a Claflin student said.
Princess Lauren Dixon and other Claflin students were interviewed Jan. 23-26, a week after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Students celebrated by participating in a day of service on the university's campus.
“It is an act of love itself to help your community, to be a part of something that you are always in,” Dixon said. “It’s important to help the people that are around you and the places you inhabit. Take care of the things that water you.”
Dixon continued, “This is still a relevant holiday because a lot of people don't think about service until it is MLK Day.”
Saim Fraser, a junior biology major, also contributed to serving.
“An organization that I'm a part of, Friends of the Earth, went out and did the campus cleanup,” Fraser said. “We cleaned up our community for a day of service, honoring the great Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Fraser explained why he feels it is so important to serve.
“He served the people; he served the underserved communities. So what better way to honor him then to continue service in your own community,” Fraser said. “It's not just a day off of work or school.”
“Even though this might be unconventional to other people, creatively serving my community and letting Black people see themselves within my work is a form of service,” Dixon said. “Also, teaching young people how to see themselves in their own work, find their voice, be the creative that they've always wanted to be, use their imagination, and figure out what it looks like for them.”
Students also stopped to consider what they wish they knew about King.
“I know he had anxiety about doing all the speeches,” Fraser said. “But I just want to know what made him decide that ‘This is bigger than me. It's bigger than everything else I have to do. I just need to go out there. This is something that needs to get done.’”
Dixon expressed wanting to know Dr. King beyond the title of a political figure.
“Who was he? I think so many people only focus on the bird's-eye view of these majority-recognized Black icons and legends in history, and we don't really take the time to even recognize who they actually were.”
Students see MLK Day as more than a holiday
By QAELA WILLIAMS
Students reflect on the meaning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by emphasizing service, community involvement and the lasting impact of King’s legacy on civil rights.
Princess Lauren Dixon said MLK Day represents more than a holiday and should be recognized as a call to action through service.
“It means to be in service by advocating and supporting your community,” Dixon said. “Lending a helping hand can impact the lives of others in ways people don’t even understand or comprehend until the person or people affected share their experience.”
Dixon said she finds fulfillment in giving back to communities she is connected to and seeing them grow through collective effort.
“It is rewarding to see communities you thrive and grow in be poured back into by what you bring to them,” Dixon said.
She also emphasized that the MLK National Day of Service honors the individuals who shape society’s vision of progress.
“The MLK National Day of Service is more than a title,” Dixon sid. “It is a day to remember and celebrate the monumental people in our lives that have raised and framed our view of what this world could be.”
Armani Simmons said the holiday serves as a reminder of King’s enduring influence on the fight for civil rights and equality.
“MLK to me means the rich legacy and contributions Martin Luther King Jr. made towards civil rights,” Simmons said.
Simmons said the day should encourage deeper reflection beyond simply recognizing it as a holiday.
“I learned to not just appreciate the day off or the fact it’s a holiday, but the evolution it’s made towards the African American equal rights in this society,” Simmons said.
MLK’s legacy lives on at Claflin University
By SAMARIAH WILSON
“The time is always right to do what is right,” the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said.
The MLK legacy remains deeply embedded in students at Claflin University.
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pushes me to be more involved on campus and in my community," said Faith Burgess, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice. "Hearing about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a young age gave me an early understanding of racism and its impact on society.”
Kelsey Carter, a sophomore majoring in biology, said, " I remember hearing about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments in elementary school, which helped me understand the importance of leadership and equality.”
Students say King’s legacy is particularly meaningful at Claflin since it is an HBCU.
"His legacy and values are emphasized here more," said Shaytoria Mitchell, a sophomore majoring in early childhood education.
"If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. saw what was going on today, he wouldn't be happy, but hopefully society can improve," Mitchell said.
Holiday sparks conversations
By TAHJE PRIOLEAU
As the nation looked back on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life and legacy, Jan. 15 would have marked his 97th birthday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday in 1983. It honors the civil rights leader’s work for racial justice.
Students on the Claflin University campus expressed varied opinions on whether the holiday in his honor still holds relevance.
“MLK Day still holds significance for me because we’re still needing to fight for equality every day, and it’s not over,” junior Kameryn Adams said.
However, a recent survey suggests that many students may know only a small part of King’s legacy.
“I feel like most people only would recognize him only for his ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, freshman Jayla Brown said. “It was more than that.”
While King is often remembered for his role in the civil rights movement, he also pushed for economic justice through coalitions like the Poor People’s campaign, which aimed to tackle poverty and income inequality across racial lines.
“I wasn’t aware of his commitment to economic justice with the Poor People’s campaign until recently,” sophomore Jalen Fishburne said. “I only heard of him as an orator but not for someone who marched on the front lines.”
Despite differing levels of knowledge, students agree the holiday continues to spark conversations about justice and social and economic responsibility today.
MLK DAY: More than a break from classes
By GABRIELLE RICE
Students at Claflin University reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during campus observations on Jan. 19.
One of the events Claflin hosted was a campus cleanup, which showcased unity, community service and the ongoing fight for racial and social equality on the national holiday honoring MLK.
The holiday is celebrated annually on the third Monday in January, paying homage to King and the impact he had on the civil rights movement. On this day, it is encouraged to participate in discussions and service acts to remember a great man.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. impacted me by teaching me the importance of standing up for what is right and helping others. His message encouraged me to be more involved in my community, which led me to participate in our campus cleanup honoring his legacy,” junior psychology major Leah Richardson said.
Students said the day serves as more than just a break from classes. It is also a reminder of all it took to get to this moment of celebration.
King was a Baptist minister and a civil rights leader who played a central role in ending racial segregation and advancing voting rights through peaceful protest during the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington.
Junior biology major Tameyah Jenkins said, “What King did back then still has an impact on us today. Even though a lot has changed, change still hasn't been made. ... The issues are still relevant and haven't disappeared. … MLK day reminds us that we still have to strive.”