Kennesaw State University celebrated MLK week with a speech on Jan. 15 that praised the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The African-American Student Alliance and the Black History Committee hosted the presentation. The common theme throughout artist and activist David Banner’s speech was that African-Americans need to take back control and be the creator of their own destiny. Banner wants more businesses and jobs to be owned and created by blacks.
Banner asked the audience, “Is anybody from the hood like I’m from the hood?” He insisted that the audience members raise their hands and that there was nothing to be ashamed of.
Banner told those from the “hood” that they have to be the difference in their neighborhoods.
“Nothing is going to change in the hood if you don’t make a point to change it,” Banner said. “If I’m like anybody, I’m like Martin Luther King before he died. How about you?”
He ended his speech by opening the floor for questions. Local business owner Charles Barnes asked Banner about the leaders in the African-American community.
“Why do we have so many leaders, but they never really give direction?” Barnes asked.
Banner replied that most of the leaders are already successful.
“Our leaders gain power with things being exactly the way they are,” Banner said.
Senior Marcus Sebastian said that he loved the speech.
“I thought it was very educational,” Sebastian said. “Most people don’t like to be preached to, so it was good to hear someone say things that people need to hear but not turn everybody off.”
The speech also had an impact on Senior E’Lona Guthrie.
“We don’t really need any more leaders because we have enough leaders,” Guthrie said. “What we need to do is come up with a common goal, a list of common goals, instead of just saying ‘I’m mad’, say ‘this is what I’m mad about’ and come up with a solution.”
Banner ended his speech with rhetorical questions for the audience.
“What is your mission statement?” Banner asked. “What are you getting your education for?”
He encouraged students to go back to their communities and build it up, promising that he would continue to help the African-American community.
“I promise y’all, unless they do something to me like they did to Dr. King, I’m going to help make it better for y’all,” he said.
Banner started off as an American rap artist and an actor. He mainly spends his time now serving as an activist and a voice for the underprivileged.
