MSJC celebrates legacy, vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Jordan Smith Jr. inspired guests with his "My Path of Resistance Through Racism" speech at Monday's Unity Breakfast. Photos courtesy of MSJC

Content contributed by Mt. San Jacinto College

Students, residents, faculty, staff and officials gathered at Mt. San Jacinto College on Monday to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the theme of "Resistance to Racism and Intolerance" at the 13th annual MLK Unity Breakfast.

Guest Speaker Dr. Jordan B. Smith Jr., inspired the crowd of about 150 people with "My Path of Resistance Through Racism."

Dr. King "had a vision. He had a dream. I didn’t know at that time that he was speaking to me," said Smith, who served in the Marines, rising to the rank of major during his highly decorated career.

Today, Smith teaches math at Mountain View High School, an alternative school in San Jacinto.

"I am a restorer. I change their mindsets," Smith said, noting that he helps many of his students graduate. "I make them believe in their abilities."

The annual Unity Breakfast at MSJC brings the community together to remember the message and work of Dr. King to promote social justice and equity. Guests enjoyed breakfast, performances, speaker presentations, and a student art contest. MSJC Political Science Professor Willie Hamilton coordinated and hosted this event with the MSJC Diversity Committee.

MSJC student Wayne Yeager, Jr., of Hemet won first place in the MLK Day Unity Breakfast art contest for his mixed media art installation that represents poverty, racism and other societal challenges among tribal nations in America. He said he started the piece, shaped like a shanty home, in December and used material left in dumpsters to salvage whatever he could.

"I wanted to tackle all the problems out there," Yeager said. "I started with poverty on a reservation."

His "We Are Still Here" installation even features a working faucet through which flows oil and rust to represent the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline.

MSJC student Delisa Williams of Banning won honorable mention for her "Dream Come True" art that features Dr. King and President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Professor John Knuth, MSJC Art Gallery Curator and Art Chair, announced that the MSJC Foundation and President Roger Schultz’s office helped commission a beautiful oil canvas painting by San Jacinto resident Barbara Rivera called "Our Future." Featuring children from every continent around the world, the painting will hang in the college library.

The breakfast also featured performers Toni Malone, who portrayed a forgotten slave and the legendary Aretha Franklin, the Praise Dancers and Choir of the 1st Missionary Baptist Church, and The Julie Simon Tropicaleiza Drummers.

Hamilton and the Mt. San Jacinto College Diversity Committee thanked the MSJC Board of Trustees and Superintendent/President Roger Schultz for their continued support and participation in the annual event.

MSJC student Wayne Yeager Jr. of Hemet won first place in the art contest for his mixed media art representation.

About 150 people attended the Unity Breakfast, held on the San Jacinto campus of MSJC.