Shenandoah University community: There's still work to be done

View larger image Monet Gooch, a political science major at Shenandoah University performed an interpretive dance as Kelly Canady (right) sang during the Martin Luther King celebration at the Goodson Chapel at Shenandoah University. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image About 50 people attended the Celebration of Life and Legacy at the Goodson Chapel at Shenandoah University to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image The Rev. Clyde Nelson was the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King celebration at the Goodson Chapel at Shenandoah University. Dennis Grundman/Daily

By Candace Sipos -- csipos@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Carmen and Ray Crawford sat in the front row of the Goodson Chapel on Monday afternoon, surround by about fifty Shenandoah University students, professors, faculty and other community members. They can be found there every year at this time.

They sang, laughed and remembered the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recalling after the ceremony how much his work and the work of other civil rights activists have changed their lives. Both went to all-black schools for most of their K-12 education.

"It was rioting," Ray Crawford said about his move to integrated schools during his junior year of high school. "Parents were scared. It was a lot of turbulence at the time."

They both agreed that the change was more difficult for the parents, who were often the ones getting in fights, than the students themselves.

Carmen Crawford switched to the integrated Winchester Intermediate middle school in seventh grade before moving on to graduate from John Handley High School. She remembers being in school on April 4, 1968 -- when news broke that King had been killed.

"Kids cried," she said, and her husband added, "It was a bad day."

Carmen Crawford noted that the seats have become progressively emptier in the chapel for this event every year, which she attributes to other events throughout the community.

"I think we should do more things combined," she said. "Then you would have more people at one event."

Brandon Banks, a junior kinesiology major at the university, was fighting for another cause Monday. He's in a group putting together a petition to have no classes on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There are more than 200 signatures already, including professors and coaches, he said.

According to the university's website, classes were canceled from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, but it was the first day of spring semester.

Along with the Crawfords and Banks, university President Tracy Fitzsimmons and city Councilman John Hill also attended.

"It's hard for me to imagine not wanting to be here," Fitzsimmons said, noting the civil rights work that still needs to be done.

"I wouldn't miss this event," said Hill, currently the only black member of the council, and perhaps the third African-American ever to serve, according to his estimation.

The Rev. Clyde Nelson gave a message directed mostly at students and highly focused on the value of their education.

"You are the ones who are now benefiting from the generation that came before you," he said, urging them to celebrate having non-segregated water fountains, beaches, military units and the like. Also, he pointed out that they haven't had to use "hand-me-down" books, buses or other educational resources because of their skin color.

"Even though things are going well, don't forget who gave you those things," he said. "... You are standing on the shoulders of your ancestors."