Martin Luther King Jr. meets Malcolm X

Monday night, two legends of the American Civil Rights Movement met on Marshall University's campus.

"The Meeting," a play about a fictional meeting between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, explores themes from the lives of both leaders. It was staged Monday at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center by Marshall University's Office of Multicultural Affairs as part of the annual celebration of King's birthday.

"I hope this inspires you to stand up and let freedom ring in your neighborhoods," Rev. Roy Terry, of the 16th Street Baptist Church, said of the play.

The play was preceded by a march from the 16th Street Baptist Church to the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. Before the play, the Martin Luther King Jr. Male Chorus performed a musical selection. The Chorus is based in Charleston and is made up of clergy from throughout the Kanawha Valley. They have performed at many events throughout the state — most notably, the nationally televised memorial service for the late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.

The event was hosted by members of the Eta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in honor of King and his widow, Coretta Scott King; and the Theta Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in honor of Malcolm X and his widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz. Both women were instrumental to the civil rights movement and continued to work long after their husbands were assassinated.

Jasmine Hariston and Whitley Mayo gave brief summaries of the women's lives and an introduction of the play.

The play takes place inside a Harlem hotel room in February 1965 — just days before Malcolm X was assassinated. It uses a mixture of comedy, drama and arm wrestling to focus on a debate between King and Malcolm X on their methods and belief on how to bring about equality for African Americans. The play showed how the men believed in very different means; but had great respect for one another. King believed in pacifism, peace and overcoming aggression. Whereas, Malcolm X was more radical and inclined to act aggressively to protect African Americans and civil rights from those who meant harm to them.

To close the event, Rev. Terry led the audience in singing "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson. The poem and music was written in 1900 and is regarded as the African-American national anthem.  

Travis Easter can be contacted at easter14@marshall.edu.