We’re Ready- Are You? | January 2022
Two banner events celebrating the life and work of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place in just a few days at RIT, hosted by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion.
Let Freedom Ring with NTID’s Thomas Warfield is Monday January 17th and Expressions of King’s Legacy is Thursday, January 27th featuring Henry Louis Gates Jr, a Harvard professor and host of the popular PBS TV genealogy series, Finding Your Roots.
Warfield is senior lecturer in the Performing Arts Program and the director of dance at National Technical Institute for the Deaf. He is also the nephew of world-renowned classical singer and actor William Warfield. The theme for Let Freedom Ring is “A Legacy of Art.” Warfield will talk about his special family bond, the recent unveiling of a bronze bust in his uncle’s honor and the role RIT played in making that a reality. A short documentary chronicling that work will be screened. RIT 4th year student Natalie Robinson, a WOCHA member and President of the ALANA Collegiate Association will serve as emcee. Let Freedom Ring will be held from 10:30 -11:30 a.m. in Ingle Auditorium. Lunch will be served in Fireside Lounge after the program.
Let Freedom Ring will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Ingle Auditorium. Lunch will be served in Fireside Lounge after the program from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m..
In accordance with RIT Event Safety Guidelines:
All attendees 12 years of age and older must provide proof of vaccination. Current RIT students, faculty, and staff who are in compliance with the vaccination policy and do not have access to a vaccination card can request a compliance pass to present along with their RIT ID for entry into all campus events.
This is the 40th anniversary of Expressions of King’s Legacy. RIT is honored to welcome Gates, an Emmy Award winning filmmaker, cultural critic and journalist to Gordon Field House on Thursday January 27th at noon for this momentous event. The title of his address is “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross."
Gates is the host of the popular genealogy series Finding Your Roots now in its seventh season on PBS. He has created more than twenty documentary films. His most recent is The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song.
Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University and the recipient of fifty-eight honorary degrees and numerous awards. In 1998, he became the first African American scholar to be awarded the National Humanities Medal.
RIT student Chloe Sparkman, a member of WOCHA and currently President of the Physician Assistant Student Association will emcee Expressions.
Making a return visit to RIT is WOMBA Africa Drumming & Dance .The talented drummers and dancers are from Ghana and we look forward to their performance.
Register for Expressions of King's Legacy
In accordance with RIT Event Safety Guidelines:
All attendees 12 years of age and older must provide proof of vaccination. Current RIT students, faculty, and staff who are in compliance with the vaccination policy and do not have access to a vaccination card can request a compliance pass to present along with their RIT ID for entry into all campus events.