On Monday, January 15, at the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, Olie W. Rauh Professor of Law John C. Brittain delivered a rousing keynote address in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite the advancing snowstorm, a crowd of 300 guests representing HBCU alumni associations, college students, members and supporters of the UNCF, and the National Alumni Council gathered for the occasion.
The event began with a warm welcome from WUSA9 anchor and investigative reporter Larry Miller, followed by a presentation of colors by the Armed Forces Color Guard. While breakfast was served, those in attendance were serenaded by Aliya Wahid-Ky and classic soloist Jamet Pittman.
Wahid-Ky’s performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing by James W. Johnson set a tone of reflection on the trials and triumphs of the civil rights movement. Immediately following the musical performances, Professor Brittain’s remarks encouraged the audience to contemplate the reactions of Dr. King, Roy Wilkins, W.E.B. Dubois, and others if they were alive today. He stated, “…the Civil Rights Movement is famous for a legacy of activism, landmark litigation, and the enormity of rights achieved for the masses.” After a thoughtful pause, Brittain added, “Yet the work of these leaders is being undone in various sectors of government and society.”
With great legerity, Professor Brittain discussed the impacts of several U.S. Supreme Court cases throughout history, including Brown v. Board of Education, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and Shelby County v. Holder. Seizing the moment to address attorneys and aspiring attorneys in the room, Brittain underscored their responsibility to advocate for justice by quoting Charles Hamilton Houston. He recited, “A lawyer is either a social engineer or…a parasite on society…”
Encouraged by the audible assent from the audience, Brittain issued a call to action. “To fight the attacks our civil liberties face, we must ascribe to the ideology of the former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as she stated, ‘Voting is… the most fundamental right in our democratic system,’ We must vote as if our lives depend on it, because they do!”
Professor Brittain’s remarks were greeted with a standing ovation. The event concluded with remarks by UNCF 2023-2024 Target Scholar Mardline Cadet Prevot and UNCF Development Director Tanya Sweeney. Both speakers acknowledged the over 100,000 donors who support more than 12,000 scholarships each year.