While many spent their Monday morning sleeping in, a group of students proved that Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is far more than a page in a history textbook. Members of the Black Student Union club joined forces with students from the AP African American Studies class to transform a day of rest into a celebratory day honoring King within the community.
The program hosted on Jan. 19 was driven by a series of high-energy performances, including the live jazz and rhythmic poetry that drew frequent applause from the crowd. This “lively” environment provided a shared contrast to a traditional classroom setting. Amber Keller, the AP African Americans teacher, noted that this shift was essential for the students’ engagement with the material.
“The audience was very supportive, and I think it really represents RUHS as a school that supports everyone,” Keller said. “I hope students took away the spirit and feeling of King […] the music, the poetry and the sense of community.”
The event, hosted by Marcus Google (known to students as Dr. Goody), was designed to honor the lives of both King and his wife Coretta Scott King. For the students in attendance, this event was an opportunity to learn more about King and his work beyond the classroom.
“It was so rewarding to watch my students read for Goody,” Keller said. “I think this event brings our students together and makes the class more meaningful with a tribute to the great King.”
Junior Brooklyn Shell, vice president of Black Student Union, found inspiration in the event’s musical tributes, specifically the performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” For her, the song served as a bridge between the struggles of the past and the hopes of the present.
“It was a really meaningful moment as it showcased the resilience and unity of an entire people and made me feel very uplifted and hopeful for our future,” Shell said. “The specific lyric of ‘let our rejoicing rise’ resonated with me as it demonstrates how the unity within Black culture allowed for us to stand against inequality and not fall, but rise for our freedoms.”
Shell noted that for the next generation, honoring King means more than just remembering history — it means actively “changing the future for ourselves.”
“It’s up to us to want to shape the future for ourselves and create the future we want for ourselves and everyone else,” Shell said. “That requires knowledge and understanding of those who have paved the way, so we can continue to make meaningful changes.”
While the student speeches focused on the words of the past, RUHS Principal Marvin Brown was focused on the reality of the present. As he looked out to the crowd, he saw more than just a school assembly; he saw a living expression of a 60-year-old dream.
“One of [King’s] dreams was seeing Black kids holding hands with white kids,” Brown said. “When you look in the audience, and you see all different types of races and nationalities and ethnicities, I think that’s what was probably the most impactful moment for me — just being a part of that.”
Shell emphasized that for the next generation, honoring King means actively “changing the future for ourselves.” It is a sentiment that Brown watched play out with “immense pride.” Brown noted that in a city like Redondo Beach, where the African American population is under 10%, seeing diverse audiences was the most impactful part of the day.
“It’s moving. It’s telling that what kids are learning and what they’re inspired by, they’re willing to put those things into action,” Brown said. “To have more people that don’t represent the Black culture participating […] They understand that King represented causes that impact all Americans. We’re seeing the fruits of his labor.”
