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In a speech that quoted extensively from the works of Martin Luther King Jr. to Kanye West, author, MSNBC political commentator, the Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson kept the crowd in Strong Auditorium enthralled during the MLK Commemorative Address on Friday, Jan. 27.
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Before his remarks, Dyson sat down to talk with students and community leaders.
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President Joel Seligman meets with Dyson at a reception before the MLK Commemorative Address.
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Dyson and Students Association president Bradley Halpern '12.
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Students share a laugh with Dyson.
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Dyson and Vicky Baudin '12, recipient of the 2011 Susan B. Anthony scholarship.
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English PhD student Joseph Vogel presents Dyson with a copy of his recently published musical biography of pop icon Michael Jackson.
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Assistant Dean and chair of the College Diversity Roundtable Norman Burnett welcomes attendees in Strong Auditorium.
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Before the address, Seligman acknowledged this year's recipients of the Presidential Diversity Award: the Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education and Diversity (CACHED) and Eastman School of Music Professor John Fetter.
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Student and Urban Fellows program alumna Alisa Jimenez '14 introduces Dyson.
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Dyson recounted the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated -- April 4, 1968 -- and reminded the audience about the "mythification" of King: "He ain't always been accepted as he is now. ... How easy it is to love a man now that's he's dead."
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In speaking about President Barack Obama, Dyson said the legacy of King opened up the "brilliant beautiful possibility that black people could ascend to the highest office in the land."
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Dyson pointed to today's hip-hop artists as further evidence of King's legacy. "Kanya is a complicated brother!" said Dyson. "King made him possible, too!"
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Dyson peppered his remarks with hip-hop lyrics from Kanye West, Tupac Shakur, and Talib Kweli, and the audience joined in on Notorious B.I.G. "We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us / No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us / Birthdays was the worst days /Now we sip champagne when we thirst-ay."
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In conclusion, Dyson challenged the audience to use King's example to fight new forms of bigotry. "Don't be bigoted against the young," he said. "Maybe if you lift their hopes, aspirations, and dreams, their pants will follow."
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Dyson with Jimenez following the address.