The “King of Calypso” himself will be visiting Texas A&M as the featured guest speaker at the fifth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on January 19. The Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee (WBAC), a diversity educational programming organization on campus at A&M, plans to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King with a combination of pancakes and impassioned words.
The “breakfast,” held this year at 5pm in Rudder Theatre in order to accommodate a larger audience for the speaker, will include a catered reception of early-bird bites to eat in addition to a private book signing by Belafonte and for his latest memoir, My Song.
Along with popularizing Caribbean music in the 1950s, Harry Belafonte is best known for combining his magnetic stage presence and musical forte with his legendary participation as an activist during the civil rights movement. His passion has led to a lifelong involvement in countless political and social causes; in his newest book, Belafonte details his close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., his role between Dr. King and the presidential administration, and his continued fight for what he believes in.
And this year Belafonte will share his experiences with students and guests at the MLK Breakfast, sponsored each year by the WBAC as the centerpiece in the organization’s “Campus with a Dream” celebration, a series of events honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
Tickets are on sale at the MSC Box Office. Students receive a discounted rate of $9, and tickets are available to faculty, staff and guests for $14. For more information, visit boxoffice.tamu.edu
About Meredith Morse