FROM ONU FACEBOOK – Today, Ohio Northern recognizes Juneteenth – the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. – and celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke on the ONU campus in 1968, “We have come a long, long way but we have a long way to go before racial justice is solved in our nation.” Sadly, that was more than 50 years ago. 

When ONU dedicated a statue of Dr. King delivering that speech, the keynote speaker was the Rev. Bernard LaFayette Jr., who worked alongside King and has devoted his life to continuing King’s message.

He said, “This University, in its quiet way, has done something very remarkable. You have made a statement to the world about who you are and what you are — the fact that you have erected a statue and you’ve not been satisfied with your plaque.

Plaques are alright. But you see, you lay plaques down, but statues stand up! And what you’ve done is to stand up. That’s what you’ve done.

When people around the world try to tear down what we have already built up, you are continuing to stand up.” Watch a video excerpt here http://ow.ly/liG750AczdL.