Student voices lead Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration
(01/21/2021) Anoka-Hennepin students prepared songs, artwork and poetry to honor Martin Luther King Day during a virtual celebration on Monday, Jan. 18. The online program included contributions from more than a dozen middle and high school students, as well as Anoka-Hennepin staff, guest speakers and a guest DJ. Encouraged by their student achievement advisors, the young performers and activists seized the opportunity to lift their voices.
“Music itself is its own language,” said Ashley Wongbi, a tenth grader at Anoka High School. Wongbi performed the song “Fate” during the program. “A lot of messages can be sent through music. I feel like there is a lot of power in music.”
Student organizers said their message is one of compassion and progress. Imani Harris, a tenth grader at Coon Rapids High School who sang “Powerful” and played the ukulele, believes the words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s still apply today. Harris thinks her generation is primed for change.
“Most of the stuff that’s coming out of young peoples’ mouths is love,” said Harris, “and uplifting people and wanting to be better and wanting to create a better future. Not only for ourselves, but we’re continuously thinking about the future for other people as well; continuously thinking about the generation that comes after us.”
As an example, Ivy Rogito, a senior at Anoka High School who sang a hymn during the program, recalled a recent conflict with a classmate. They had a heated disagreement about politics, but later wished each other well. Rogito thinks it is a sign of hope that King’s dream can be realized.
“I feel like it is more exciting to push others to win instead of just tearing each other down, even if you have hurt me,” said Rogito. “And I feel like that is a quality that a lot of people of this generation have. And even if they don’t have it, they’re trying to embrace that quality.”