MLK Jr. Day event: success?

What does Nailah, a head of BSU, think about the MLK Jr. day events?

This past month, I was fortunate to host a panel alongside Kwame Alexander ‘25 with three notable Black alum panelists. I met the panelists before our program during a pre-panel meeting. As I listened to each panelist’s stories and what they were up to today, it was apparent that, despite their unique experiences, they could still connect through their time at Middlesex. The stories about their journey during and after Middlesex were hopeful, as they all found themselves heading in a different direction than they had intended after graduating from Middlesex. The comfort they expressed in the unknown of what life would bring them was encouraging, yet it was evident that they could still use skills and maintain relationships gained at Middlesex. While hearing from the panelists was powerful, I felt that the panel did not reference Dr. Martin Luther King even though our programming was for his national day. The panel perfectly reflected Black excellence and experience, characteristics of Dr. King’s work; however, our failure to connect to him throughout the programming sometimes felt unfocused.

Nevertheless, I was excited that the community had the opportunity to listen to three young but successful alums of color who could offer knowledgeable advice and connect to the current struggles of many students, specifically Black students. Kwame and I asked the panelists various pre-made questions about identity and experiences at Middlesex. These questions led to insightful answers that many Black students and students, in general, could relate to and provided a glimpse into what life could be like in five to ten years. I am immensely grateful to all of our panelists who were able to come to Middlesex in person and to the school for allowing us to connect and listen to the alumni. The sentiment of the panel after was that there was more to be said, as is always the case, and I hope that Middlesex continues to invite young alums and encourage conversations about identity and race at Middlesex with those who have experienced Middlesex and the world beyond.  

Nailah Hamilton