Elizabeth Alexander Speaks at Wittenberg University

Just like the Black Eyed Peas, and Martin Luther King Jr., poet Elizabeth Alexander preached for worldwide love Monday, January 18th at the MLK commemorative convocation held in Springfield, Ohio.

Alexander, a professor at Yale University, was selected to read her poem “Praise Song for the Day”, at Barack Obama’s Inauguration in January of 2009. Little did she know, she would be reading it almost a year later on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Weaver Chapel at Wittenberg University.

While speaking about being at the walk on Washington as a newborn child with her parents –when Martin Luther King gave his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech she said, “Neither of them would know how that day will live in history” and it is now one of the most famous speeches, today.

She seemed to follow Dr. King’s words of wisdom throughout her speech, and also used June Jordan’s, who was a poet born in Harlem, a teacher, and activist, like Alexander, as well. One of the many meaningful things Alexander said was, “Do you know what you are fighting for, as well as what you are fighting against?”

Her main point throughout her speech at Wittenberg was expressing the importance of the need of love in the world today. “Dr. King asked everyone to commit to their country and to their communities.” Alexander followed this statement by bringing up the Haiti disaster and the way the world is graciously helping the people who are in need.

“It is love that makes us say we can do better.” Alexander then stressed, “Where is the Love?” In 2003 a band called the Black Eyed Peas published a hit single called, “Where is the Love?” showing that people all around the world are concerned with the amount of violence and disgrace that is going on, today.

Using lyrics that range from, “Selfishness has got us following our wrong direction…” to “Wrong information always shown by the media, Negative images is the main criteria…” these lyrics helped explain that Alexander, as well as many other people want the world at peace. But because of neglect and violence, it is a hard thing to come by.

Unlike the Black Eyed Peas, Alexander did not speak of racism throughout the world today, and she merely only focused on the need for love, and how poetry can help all. “Poetry makes something happen in language, it takes the breath away…”

She ended her speech with “praise song for walking forward in that light.” Elizabeth Alexander made an impact on the United States during the Inauguration last year, but she also made an impact at Wittenberg on Monday, after receiving a standing ovation for her thoughtful speech, from a very receptive crowd.