Nothing is a better medium to express your emotions and feelings than soulful songs and beautiful poetry. Northeastern University’s own professor, Margaret Burnham, likes to organise events surrounding this expression of emotions. She is the professor of Law, and the one to orchestrate a special event which mainly focused on music and poetry. It was to pay tribute to those nine people who got killed at the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina. “We have gathered here together to reflect deeply and with our souls and spirits on that tragedy,” said Burnham. “We are all hurt.”
President Joseph E. Aoun and Tito Jackson, Councilor of Boston City, attended this event along with around hundred of people. It was held at the Fenway Center, filled with performances of talented artists. Some of the Northeastern University students also participated in the event and talked about their reflections. One of them was Akira Brown, member of the Northeastern Black Student Association. She researched about the tragedy, which led her to find a religious community. This community has faced every adversity bravely. “Resilience is indicative of the black experience,” she said, “and just like the resilience of Emanuel AME, I too have become resilient.”
Nicole Terez Dutton’s poems seemed to be a hit with the performers, as many of them read out her poems. Along with this Somerville poet laureate, poems of Sonia Sanchez, a distinguished American poet, were also read.
“Poetry and music testify to humanities’ capacity for greatness, great compassion, and expansive generosity,” said Lori Lefkovitz, who read a poem too.
The Center for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Program, and the Northeastern Humanities Center, along with the Northeastern University School of Law and the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute, were the generous sponsors of this soulful and quite successful event.
Pranjali Wakde
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