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WINTERVILLE�A fictional encounter between Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama highlighted Pitt Community College�s ongoing celebration of Black History Month. On Monday, students from PCC�s Next Level program performed a play in which the late Civil Rights pioneer and the newly elected leader of the free world discuss the effect Obama�s election will have on fulfilling King�s dream of equal rights. Written by PCC�s Minority Male Mentoring Program Coordinator Andre Gregory, "Changes to the Dream? A Conversation between Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama," is set in November 2008. After a tiring Election Day, Obama falls asleep on the couch while reading King�s book, �Why We Can�t Wait,� and begins to dream that he and King are conversing. The discussion includes a comparison of today�s society with that of King�s and examines the strides that have been made toward equality since King�s assassination in 1968. Ultimately, the title characters determine that it will be up to the American people to decide whether or not King�s dream has been changed or fulfilled by Obama�s election. "Changes to a Dream?� took place in Pitt�s new Craig F. Goess Student Center. PCC University Transfer student Dewayne Robinson, an aspiring actor, played Obama, while East Carolina University student Jason Brown was King. Ashley Rivera was the voice of First Lady Michelle Obama. All of the performers have been preparing for their roles since early January. �It was a real �community� event,� Gregory said. �Everyone from PCC students and faculty to ECU students and Discovery Church came together to make it happen. It falls in line with Obama�s message that everyone has to do his or her part.� The PCC campus has celebrated Black History Month throughout February with a variety of programs, including a performance by the musical group Jabali Afrika, a Readers� Theater event, a blood drive, a poster display and a quiz bowl. Held on Feb. 19, the quiz bowl tested students� knowledge of famous African-Americans who have contributed to the fields of math, science and technology. Latanya Streeter took first place in the competition, Kimberly Dane was second and Carlton Perry third. |
