George School Honors Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The George School community celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15 with a series of events and activities commemorating the work and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A special Meeting for Worship took place the day before followed by a reception with the Parent and Guardian Association in the MDA Library in addition to the MLK Teen Peace and Social Justice Summit which was attended by a group of community members.

The day itself began with students meeting with their Collections to discuss the importance and meaning of the day before heading to a special assembly. Zachary Holmes `24 opened and helped lead the assembly for the day with a quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that states: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase” before introducing the keynote speaker.

George School welcomed Juandalynn Abernathy, daughter of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy and one of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s goddaughters, on campus from Germany as the assembly keynote speaker this year. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Walton Auditorium to hear her presentation “The Impact of Music and Lyricism in Sustaining a Movement” in which she shared her experience of the Civil Rights Movement through a musical lens.

As a professional opera singer and choir director, Juandalynn embraces music as a means to communicate, connect, unite with others, and advocate for change—a sentiment which inspired major events of the Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Freedom March on Washington, which Juandalynn experienced in her youth as the first child of the Civil Rights Movement. “Marching and singing kept us going,” Juandalynn shared. “Music uplifted us.”

Juandalynn’s presentation opened with a rousing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson and composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, with her voice accompanied by student singers. She followed this piece with a performance of “I Got to Lie Down,” arranged by Hall Johnson, before sharing a slideshow of photographs that depicted her family, her father and Uncle Martin (as she warmly refers to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, and instances of segregation and nonviolent protest. Juandalynn shared her life story in her own words alongside these impactful images with samples of music from the time which channeled this pivotal moment in history and remain influential today.

“Music played a very important role in terms of the Freedom Movement…being together [with my family] helped us to stay strong. And that is the truth,” Juandalynn shared.

Growing up in a time of unrest and great change was difficult at times for Juandalynn, but she expressed that she understood it was for justice and a cause that would shape the course of history. “It is important to talk about Black history,” Juandalynn shared, and she believes music is an effective and resonating medium to do so.

Juandalynn closed her presentation with a performance of the version of “We Shall Overcome” which she personally heard and sang during the Civil Rights Movement. The whole George School community stood and joined her in a moment of unity and solidarity that served as a reminder of what this day of service in honor of her Uncle Martin is about: “We mustn’t forget where we came from in order to move forward.”

Reflecting on the assembly, Zachary Holmes `24 shared that he learned a lot by helping plan this event for the community, and working behind the scenes with Juandalynn and her sister, Donzaleigh Abernathy ’75, who was last year’s speaker on campus for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Participants in the [Civil Rights] Movement had faith even when their situation seemed impossible,” shared Zachary.

After this moving assembly, students participated in service activities, helping sort items for the organization Cradles to Crayons to send to those in need. Students coordinated with their advisors to collect items leading up to the day and, in partnership with the Parent and Guardian Association, also collected items for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, A Woman’s Place, and Pennsbury Kids.

“The service portion of the day confirmed how we are much stronger when we unite for the purpose of helping each other,” shared faculty member and Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee Clerk Shantel Hubert.

Students then met with their Collections to reflect on their service experiences before heading to Walton Auditorium to attend student presentations which included “The Impact and Legacy of African American Music,” “The Rise of Hip-Hop,” “Music and the Brain,” and more.

The day’s events concluded with Meeting for Worship where hearts were open, full, and reflective.