New exhibition at USC honors MLK

Martin Luther King Jr.: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.

From now until March 5th, students and faculty have the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Exhibit hosted by the USC Fisher Museum of Art and learn about the legendary civil rights leader’s connection to Los Angeles.

“MLK in Los Angeles” is an exhibition organized by the USC Center for Black Culture and Student Affairs that aims to honor the legacy of the late Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate the monumental changes he brought towards equality and inclusion.

Along the walls, visitors will be able to see historic pictures and inspiring quotes of King taken and said at memorable points in history, including his 1964 speech at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Other notable additions include painted murals of King and an interactive board that allows guests to write their hopes for the future.

Latanya Seale, a USC faculty member who was visiting the exhibit, wrote on the board her beliefs on the next step to get closer to what King envisioned.

Latanya Seale: I wrote on the board today, be the change that you want to see and to keep your dreams alive. Much of what Martin Luther King did, he opened a door for inclusion that we’ve never seen open before... it was the beginning of something good.

Seale went on to mention how minorities are still facing a lot of the same problems today.

Latanya Seale: We’re still fighting some of the same tragedies and issues that were here many years ago. So. As Trojans always say, fight on. So that’s what we should continue to do.

Other guests, like Francis Anesi, spoke on what King’s dream would be if he was alive today.

Francis Anesi: I think his dream would be inclusion include everybody.

We’re thankful for him...his legacy still moves on within everybody.

Mia Flores, visitor service assistant for USC Museums, shared her feelings about being able to work the exhibit.

Mia Flores: I have experienced a lot of people coming in and out of this exhibit. And I think it’s really interesting to see the diversity of people that come into this exhibit to see what it’s all about.

It’s important for people to come in...and learn about his time here...what he had to say and what he did during this time.

Martin Luther King Jr.: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

For Annenberg Media, I’m Nicholas Dinh.