Angelic voices filled the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts on a snowy Jan. 21 as the Clemson Gospel Choir kicked off the 43rd annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative program with a performance of “Why Do We Sing?” The tune was beautifully performed, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
After the chorus wrapped, President Jim Clements acknowledged his appreciation for the program’s planning committee, especially student co-chair André Moxie, who subsequently took the stage to deliver some opening remarks.
“For the past 43 years, Clemson University has taken the time to pause, recognize and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Moxie said.
In light of the inclement weather throughout the southeast, Moxie announced that keynote speaker and five-time Grammy winner PJ Morton would be attending the event virtually due to a canceled flight.
“Morton’s work beautifully captures the unifying power of music and the pursuit of social justice,” Moxie said, “principles that resonate deeply with Dr. King’s legacy.”
Morton remotely joined the audience on a TV screen and participated in a Q&A session hosted by Melvin Villaver, a Clemson global black studies professor, and Salena Robinson, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day program’s student co-chair.
In response to the question regarding how his music inspires justice and equity while also mapping King’s beliefs and impact, Morton went into detail about his sincere connection to King.
“I think I use music to tell the hard truth and be the voice for the people. I think that’s the way it reflects Dr. King, in many ways. Community right now is more important than ever. And I think music is the universal language we all speak that has the ability to bring us together,” Morton answered.
The next few questions focused on Morton’s background and how it led him to venture upon his current musical journey.
“Even when I went off to do my soul or R&B music, or even pop with Maroon 5, I always understood the importance of connecting to people, and I don’t think anything does it better than gospel music,” Morton said.
“Really being true from the heart reaches the heart. And bringing back the connections, Dr. King’s journey started at Morehouse, where he was shaped by a community of thinkers and leaders,” Morton said, relating King’s legacy to his own education.
Morton was then asked about his contribution of music to the new “The Princess and the Frog” ride at Walt Disney World. Morton said that his contribution tapped into his memories of childhood because that’s where he feels that creativity originates.
“I will always use that gift to tell stories and to support other people’s stories,” Morton said of his own creativity.
Morton ended by talking about his recent musical endeavors, including his most recent full-length album, “Cape Town to Cairo.”
“We went to Africa for 30 days to create an album completely focused on the continent of Africa. We went to South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt. What led me to it was looking for inspiration, looking for that spark,” Morton stated.
“The book ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’ is my memoir,” Morton explained, “A lot of people know about the five Grammys, they know Maroon 5 and Young Money, but they don’t know the steps it took me to get here and win those five Grammys as an independent.”
Morton left the audience with an inspiring and heartfelt message. “If you stick to who you are, if that’s genuinely you, and you believe you have a gift, or you believe you have something to say, stick to that. And sometimes it’s not immediate, but in the long run, it pays off.”
After Morton’s departure, the excellence in service awards were presented. The awards were said to be for service that is dedicated to justice, equity and betterment of the community.
The event concluded with a gracious, encouraging speech from Rebecca Harkless, the director of the Gantt Multicultural Center and chair of the King program committee.
