Song and Service

A countless number of William and Mary students have given their weekends and breaks volunteering in the community of Petersburg, Virginia throughout their time at the College. The Office of Community Engagement and Scholarship’s tradition continued over Martin Luther King weekend, the first trip to Petersburg of 2012. However, during this visit, the students received an inspirational experience in return.

The City of Petersburg carries a rich history with regards to the Civil Rights Movement, which is celebrated and reflected upon annually in conjunction with the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. On Sunday, students and OCES staff members spent the day learning about the movement in Petersburg through the personal stories of its leaders, many of whom still live in the community. The morning began with the students attending the Petersburg Zion Baptist Church for a special MLK Weekend sermon given by Rev. Andrew White, who worked directly with Dr. King in Alabama. The inspiring service was followed by a trip to the public library where the first sit-ins were held in Petersburg. A historian explained how local civil rights activists chose to sit-in at the library as opposed to a diner counter as a symbol of their desire for educational equality, a message that resonated with the students.

In the evening, a community dinner was prepared by the students, accompanied by a panel of Civil Rights activists from Petersburg who were college-age and younger during their participation in the movement. The room was filled with lively discussion and story telling of personal memories. The audience, made up of citizens of all ages, also added another layer of unique anecdotes. However, the central message of the evening espoused by the activists was the responsibility the youth hold to carry on the movement. They spoke of how as the original leaders their passion and commitment to equality will never end, but their age as begun to limit them. It is now up to the next generation to step forward and seek out their guidance to continue the movement, especially with regards to education.   

Martin Luther King Day commenced at a breakfast with honorary guest, Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, a chief strategist for Dr. King. Rev. Walker spoke to the importance of music to the Civil Rights Movement as a symbol of unity. After breakfast, a few more students came down from campus to join the others working on community service projects with Pathways, a non-profit community development organization. The students established a Free Store for donated clothes to provide individuals who need specific clothing items for their job or an interview. They also continued work on a classroom that will be used for career training classes for the community.

After volunteering the students attended Sycamore Rouge, a staged reading and commemoration of the words of Dr. King. The Petersburg City Council recited the reading from the movement as the audience sang songs while “arm-locking,” a signature physical display of unity during the movement. The trip culminated with the singing of Happy Birthday to Dr. King, a fitting end to an inspiring weekend, which brought William and Mary students and Petersburg citizens together through song and service.