It is with great humility I welcome you back to my elongated rants disguised as blogs. I’ve missed you, readers, and I’m so excited to talk your ears off this Spring season. Without further ado, let the story commence.
Tunneling toward the tundra-topped town of Lewisburg, the dreams of Martin Luther King live on. His words give life to the fallen stars of our American flag and part the seas of despair lingering at many of our feet. Much of America is in a state of mourning as January rolls its tide and the red of our flag rejoices in its victory with the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Martin Luther King Day, for many, had all the more meaning this year, bringing together fallen soldiers in the battle for democracy as we think about the relations of race in America and the infinite possibilities for our world. Many Bucknellians were able to catch a glimpse of the doting dream of Dr. King through Bucknell’s MLK Week. The James Baldwin Readout was just one of the amazing programs held this week, part of Bucknell’s Learning to Action: Movement Toward Just Communities.
Presented by the Literary Studies Program, citizens of Bucknell University gathered in the Bertrand Library, with plates and drinks in hand, to read the work of one of Dr. King’s contemporaries and interlocutors: novelist, essayist, dramatist, and public intellectual James Baldwin. Selected students opened the gathering with excerpts from The Fire Next Time, each piece presenting itself more riveting than the last. Like an orchestra, the collective bass of the “mmm’s” and high notes of “ah’s” made for an astounding chorus of contemplation. In this time of reflection, it seemed as though yet another great man had been graced with a dream.
Before the festivities began, the audience was greeted by the marvelous and mesmerizing man of the hour, dare I even say a hidden gem of Bucknell University, Professor Kenton Butcher, Assistant Professor of English Literary Studies, Affiliated Faculty in Critical Black Studies. Sporting a dashing neutral-toned two-piece vest and slacks, Professor Kenton, who prefers to be addressed as Kenton, but to his good friends like myself, allows ‘Kenny’, (please know this is a joke, Professor Kenton), had every set of eyes and ears bewitched with his pure passion for his work as a scholar and avid fan of James Baldwin. His storytelling skills shone bright as he recited the work of Baldwin. Kenny, Kenton,.. Professor, if the whole teaching thing doesn’t work out for you, I can assure you that you’d be a phenomenal voice actor for Amazon books. You’ve got that southern blue-belle essence to your voice, which was very fitting for your narration of The Fire Next Time. In between the readings, Professor Kenton provided thought-provoking commentary about the ways Baldwin has impacted English literature as well as ways his words can be applied to American politics and individualism.
For those who have not yet had the privilege of knowing Professor Kenton, he has taught several life-changing courses in the English department’s Race & Literature section, 2 of which I had the pleasure of taking between my sophomore and junior years. Currently, he is teaching a 200-level Intro to Race and Literature course, a 300-level James Baldwin seminar (a course shamelessly promoted in the reading), and even a graduate-level course for Bucknell’s Master students. Way to go, Kenny! Professor Kenton also specializes in African American and South African literature and holds a Ph.D. in English and certificates in Africana studies and film studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Overall, this event was a success! By bringing together students and faculty to listen to and commemorate the ideas of MLK and Baldwin, the English department was able to stir feelings of empathy and connect people across different generations and cultures. It was disheartening, but also slightly inspiring, to see that people from different age groups were still relating to problems derived from racism and grappling with inequality, but were making the effort to learn and equip themselves with the tools to change things. Knowledge is surely power, so keep reading and thinking. Growing up, my mother and grandmother always stressed that the one thing that can not and will not ever be taken from me as a Black woman is my education. Despite the country reforming its standards of education and rewriting people like myself out of existence, because I know what I know, my conscience and ability to learn are as strong as ever.
I will leave you with this quote that I heard referenced in Baldwin’s work, which has been playing repeatedly in my head since: “If White people can not understand Black people, it is because they can not understand something in themselves”. That quote was particularly intriguing to me because it reaffirmed to me that racism, or “The Negro Problem”, is not my problem, but society’s problem. There is no problem with me being Black, nor is racism an issue for me to fix, it’s your problem. My existence is your problem. And that has nothing to do with my beautiful black self. I’ll note that if you’re interested in hearing more quotes like that, or even meeting the magnificent Kenton Butcher, I strongly encourage you to check out his James Baldwin seminar, which still has more seats!
This is Athaliah Elvis, aka your favorite writer, signing off.