Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through Reflection, Faith, and Action

On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Chatham Hall community gathered in St. Mary’s Chapel for a powerful and meaningful observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Led by the Black Student Union (BSU), the chapel service invited students, faculty, staff, and guests to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, life, and call to justice, faith, hope, and love through nonviolent change.

More than a celebration, the service was a thoughtful and intentional act of leadership. BSU students planned and led every element of the service, weaving together music, prayer, spoken word, embodiment, and personal reflection. Throughout the event, the community was encouraged not only to remember Dr. King’s work but to consider what justice, courage, and beloved community look like in their own lives, drawing them deeper into the life of the man and the movement.

In her reflection, Princess S. ’27 spoke candidly about what Dr. King’s message means to her as a Black student and as someone who first encountered his legacy after arriving in the United States. “Sometimes I feel like I need to be quieter, like I shouldn’t take up too much space,” she shared. “Dr. Martin Luther King’s message helps me remember that I should be myself… Being Black is not something I should hide. It is something that God made on purpose.”

She reflected on Dr. King’s faith and resilience, reminding the community that justice is not passive hope, but active courage. “If we stay silent, it takes away a part of us,” she said. “Honoring him means walking through my school halls confident in who God made me to be.”

Sophie P. ’28 reflected on Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to nonviolence, quoting his words: “I have decided to stick to love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” She challenged listeners to focus not only on what Dr. King accomplished, but also on how he accomplished it.

“He chose peace in his actions and his words,” she said. “And he still managed to accomplish so much. That is something we need to remember today, because peace can never be achieved by violence.”

Ana G.C. ’26 focused her reflection on activism and personal responsibility, emphasizing that meaningful change does not require grand gestures. “Any action of any size can still make a difference,” she said. “Activism is the reason why you and I are able to be in the same room together right now.”

She encouraged the community not to wait for the “right moment” to act. “If we sit here and wait until we are ready to make change,” she said, “we’ll all be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

The service also included a visual prelude of Glory by Common and John Legend, liturgical dance set to Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise, poetry by Derek Walcott and Langston Hughes, congregational hymns, and moments of communal prayer. A reflective activity invited each person present to write down how they might participate in Dr. King’s dream of justice and equality, carrying that intention beyond the chapel walls.

Throughout the service, a shared theme emerged: Dr. King’s legacy is not confined to history books or a holiday; it lives in courage, in voice, in faith, and in daily choices.

As Mrs. Gray-Williams shared in the closing words, quoting Dr. King himself, “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

Chatham Hall is deeply grateful to the BSU members and their sponsors, Deborah Glymph, Tiffany Gray-Williams, and Cornelius Snead, for their leadership, care, and vision in planning this meaningful service. Their work was a powerful reminder that learning comes alive when students are trusted to lead, reflect, and speak from the heart.