Students Honor King Legacy Through Arts

On January 15, 2026, Colorado Academy’s Upper School students honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Town Hall celebration entitled, “Lifting Every Voice: The Arts of the Civil Rights Movement.” Organized by CA’s Black Student Affinity Group (BSA) and the Visual & Performing Arts Department, the special event featured traditional singing, original dance, poetry, and historic film clips and narratives about Dr. King presented by members of the BSA.

Introducing the assembly, Juniors Hallie Solomon and Akleema Abdullahi told the audience, “Dr. King understood that the fight for civil rights was not only in courts or streets, but also through song, poetry, visual art, and collective voice. The arts were not just entertainment during the Movement; they were acts of courage, unity, and hope. Today, we are proud to showcase performances by our fellow students, guided by the creativity and leadership of our faculty.”

The special program took shape last summer, when Dr. Camille James, Grade 9 Dean and Upper School Director of Culture & Community, envisioned a meaningful way to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King by highlighting the vital role the arts played in the Civil Rights Movement. Says Dr. James, “I have long believed that Colorado Academy embodies the dream Dr. King spoke of—a community where students come together across differences to celebrate one another. The talent, creativity, and unity demonstrated by our students reflect that vision and affirm our shared commitment to honoring Dr. King’s legacy.”

The students then invited guests in the Leach Center for the Performing Arts to join Junior vocalists NyImah Bryant and Imani Shannon along with the CA Chanteurs in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black National Anthem. Written in 1900, the iconic hymn’s powerful lyrics served as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement, articulating Black Americans’ journey of struggle and resilience.

Next, students presented an excerpt of King’s most famous oration, “I Have a Dream,” and Ninth Grader Ahmed Abukar provided an analysis of the well-known words.

“Dr. King calls on the nation to live up to its founding promise of liberty for all. He uses powerful imagery to describe both the deep injustices of racial segregation and his hopeful vision of a future where people are judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. This dream was about equality and justice, and it remains a dream we strive for today.”

Tenth Grader Nina Andrews then took the microphone to give more detail about the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders. “The Civil Rights Movement, from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, was a fight to end racial segregation and secure equal rights for Black Americans. Dr. King was one of the most recognized leaders, but there were many others, such as Ruby Bridges, who bravely integrated her elementary school as a child; John Lewis, who risked his life at marches; Fannie Lou Hamer and Diane Nash who advocated for voting rights for all; and Bayard Rustin, an openly gay activist whose strategic guidance was critical to organizing the 1963 March on Washington. Together, they used nonviolent protest, legal challenges, and the power of the arts to achieve transformative change.”

Andrews added, “Beyond racial justice, the Movement also laid the groundwork for broader civil rights efforts, inspiring activism for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, and economic justice, showing how the fight for equality in one arena can spark progress across many.”

Bryant and Tenth Grade peer Ariyana Barnett explained the vital connection between activism and the arts.

“Music, art, and poetry gave people the courage to keep going when times were hard. Songs united crowds during marches. Poems expressed the pain of injustice and the hope for a better future. Art captured both the struggles and the victories. The arts were the heartbeat of the Civil Rights Movement. Jacob Lawrence’s The March shows the determination of people demanding change. Faith Ringgold’s quilts tell stories of strength and hope. Protest posters used bold colors and simple words to call people to action. Art spoke a language everyone could understand—a language of justice.”

The students then introduced CA’s Upper School Dance Company, which presented original choreography set to Jon Batiste’s rendition of “What A Wonderful World.”

Next to the microphone was Tenth Grader Antu Abdullahi, who read the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, explaining, “This poem insists on belonging, dignity, and the certainty that change will come.”

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.

—Langston Hughes (1926)

To conclude the assembly, Tenth Grader Estella Rose Guess Johnson noted, “Writing from jail, Dr. King noted that waiting for change often means never achieving it, especially for those suffering under segregation. King distinguished between just and unjust laws and insisted that people have a moral responsibility to challenge injustice peacefully. As he powerfully stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” reminding us that injustice affects all communities, not just those directly targeted.”

 “The arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, but only if we help bend it.” ~ Dr. King