Completed Event: Softball versus Georgia on May 18, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 5 , (F/8)
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Final
Softball
2
vs Georgia
5
Photo by: Duke Photography
Duke Athletics Hosts MLK Unity Rally
1/17/2022 5:06:00 PM | Softball, Athletics
DURHAM – Duke Athletics hosted an MLK Unity Rally virtually on Monday morning, to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Several influential members of the Duke community spoke at the event and it was emceed by Duke Deputy Director of Athletics/Competitive Excellence, People & Culture Troy Austin. The guest speakers included: Dawna Jones, Director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture; Vincent E. Price, Duke University President; La'Meshia Whittington, Deputy Director for Advance Carolina and the North Carolina Black Alliance Campaigns Director; Duke softball head coach Marissa Young and senior Kristina Foreman as well as track & field junior Elasia Campbell.
As the keynote speaker, Whittington highlighted several of the challenges that face the Black community to this day and called on further action to combat these issues, while highlighting the importance of unity.
"Let me be abundantly clear as I close – today is not a day of rest," Whittington said. "It is not a holiday to say that we have overcome. It is a day of deep reflection, strategic planning, and intentional unification. There are many issues, but there are many of us and it does take a village. So, today I commend Duke University student-athletes, Coach Young, President Price and the leadership, for picking up the mantle and calling for a day of unity, not a day of rest and silence. Today, I will not quote 'I Have a Dream', today I will quote again Dr. King's final words to the essential workers, to the bedrock folks of our nation. We have got to give ourselves to the struggle until the very end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this. We've got to see it through. My charge today is that we've got to see it through."
Foreman added her prospective as a young female Black student-athlete in this country.
"Growing up, I was always taught that America was the land of equal opportunity," Foreman said. "It was the place that no matter what your background, your socio-economic status, race, culture or gender, you could be successful if you pull yourself up by the bootstraps and work hard. But, as I've matured and experienced the world as a Black woman, the idea of a so-called "American Dream", quickly diminished. I realized that the big opportunities were reserved for those with fairer skin and second chances were seldom when you had skin like mine. That no matter how hard I work, or how talented I am, there are obstacles in this life that I will face.
"I'm a Florida native and on my last drive back to Durham, North Carolina, I saw 13 confederate flags. And, those were the only ones I could see from the interstate. 13 places where I'm not welcome. Not because of my personality, not because of my achievements, not even for the person that I am, but sorely on what I appear to be, something that I can't change. It's shocking to me that even in today's age, I have to figure out ways to best conserve gas and pre-map where I can stop to feel even remotely safe. But despite the experiences and encounters I've had over the last 20 years of my life, I still believe in this nation. I still believe that this country can be what I was always taught. A place where if you work, you can achieve your dreams. The work isn't done. We have to keep pushing for change."
Campbell was next to speak, and she emphasized the importance of appreciating Dr. King's teachings and philosophy.
"Carrying out Dr. King's teachings each day of your life are a few strides forward that you can make," Campbell said. "But it's really when you believe in your heart that you should devote everything you have to fight for justice when the time comes, that's when you win your race. Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. is and should be about more than being happy to have friends that are a different color than you. I see a lot of thank yous to Dr. King with pictures of diverse friend groups and pairings, but I never see thank yous for him in regard to his teachings. I want to see more thank yous for Dr. King upholding and teaching the belief that no one should stand by and watch injustice, but instead everyone should get involved in bringing about justice."
Young concluded the event with a message to the Duke student-athletes that are preparing to enter the world following graduation.
"Today is a step toward continuing the conversation, taking action and engaging with our allies to fight against racism," Young said. "I urge you to continue looking for ways to unite people of all colors, from all walks of life, in every arena you step into. Many of you will leave Duke with access to decision makers in the medical field, in educational systems, in board rooms, in courtrooms and even lawmakers. You can leverage your position to further equality and dismantle systematic injustices. You have the power to create change in the world around us and I am anxiously awaiting to see the impact that each of you have this year and, in the years, to come."
#GoDuke
Several influential members of the Duke community spoke at the event and it was emceed by Duke Deputy Director of Athletics/Competitive Excellence, People & Culture Troy Austin. The guest speakers included: Dawna Jones, Director of the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture; Vincent E. Price, Duke University President; La'Meshia Whittington, Deputy Director for Advance Carolina and the North Carolina Black Alliance Campaigns Director; Duke softball head coach Marissa Young and senior Kristina Foreman as well as track & field junior Elasia Campbell.
As the keynote speaker, Whittington highlighted several of the challenges that face the Black community to this day and called on further action to combat these issues, while highlighting the importance of unity.
"Let me be abundantly clear as I close – today is not a day of rest," Whittington said. "It is not a holiday to say that we have overcome. It is a day of deep reflection, strategic planning, and intentional unification. There are many issues, but there are many of us and it does take a village. So, today I commend Duke University student-athletes, Coach Young, President Price and the leadership, for picking up the mantle and calling for a day of unity, not a day of rest and silence. Today, I will not quote 'I Have a Dream', today I will quote again Dr. King's final words to the essential workers, to the bedrock folks of our nation. We have got to give ourselves to the struggle until the very end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this. We've got to see it through. My charge today is that we've got to see it through."
Foreman added her prospective as a young female Black student-athlete in this country.
"Growing up, I was always taught that America was the land of equal opportunity," Foreman said. "It was the place that no matter what your background, your socio-economic status, race, culture or gender, you could be successful if you pull yourself up by the bootstraps and work hard. But, as I've matured and experienced the world as a Black woman, the idea of a so-called "American Dream", quickly diminished. I realized that the big opportunities were reserved for those with fairer skin and second chances were seldom when you had skin like mine. That no matter how hard I work, or how talented I am, there are obstacles in this life that I will face.
"I'm a Florida native and on my last drive back to Durham, North Carolina, I saw 13 confederate flags. And, those were the only ones I could see from the interstate. 13 places where I'm not welcome. Not because of my personality, not because of my achievements, not even for the person that I am, but sorely on what I appear to be, something that I can't change. It's shocking to me that even in today's age, I have to figure out ways to best conserve gas and pre-map where I can stop to feel even remotely safe. But despite the experiences and encounters I've had over the last 20 years of my life, I still believe in this nation. I still believe that this country can be what I was always taught. A place where if you work, you can achieve your dreams. The work isn't done. We have to keep pushing for change."
Campbell was next to speak, and she emphasized the importance of appreciating Dr. King's teachings and philosophy.
"Carrying out Dr. King's teachings each day of your life are a few strides forward that you can make," Campbell said. "But it's really when you believe in your heart that you should devote everything you have to fight for justice when the time comes, that's when you win your race. Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. is and should be about more than being happy to have friends that are a different color than you. I see a lot of thank yous to Dr. King with pictures of diverse friend groups and pairings, but I never see thank yous for him in regard to his teachings. I want to see more thank yous for Dr. King upholding and teaching the belief that no one should stand by and watch injustice, but instead everyone should get involved in bringing about justice."
Young concluded the event with a message to the Duke student-athletes that are preparing to enter the world following graduation.
"Today is a step toward continuing the conversation, taking action and engaging with our allies to fight against racism," Young said. "I urge you to continue looking for ways to unite people of all colors, from all walks of life, in every arena you step into. Many of you will leave Duke with access to decision makers in the medical field, in educational systems, in board rooms, in courtrooms and even lawmakers. You can leverage your position to further equality and dismantle systematic injustices. You have the power to create change in the world around us and I am anxiously awaiting to see the impact that each of you have this year and, in the years, to come."
#GoDuke
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