On Friday, Jan.12, the Bryn Mawr community celebrated the legacy of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. with special gatherings. Little School children sang about friendship, kindness and, of course, the Happy Birthday song in honor of Dr. King’s birthday. Kindergarten through 4th grade students attended an assembly filled with music and poetry focusing on Dr. King’s legacy of social justice, equality and fairness, followed by classroom discussions. Students in grades 5-12 heard from a remarkable panel of four African American alumnae who shared their stories and experiences of being students of color at Bryn Mawr throughout different decades.

Talia Titus, director of global programs and diversity at Bryn Mawr, said that one of her goals for the assembly was that it serve as a living history class for the Bryn Mawr community and a roadmap for moving forward. “It is my belief that what is not revealed cannot be healed. As Bryn Mawr student historians and teachers investigate the story of integration, diversity and inclusion here, there is no better way to understand the story of struggle and progress than with first-hand accounts,” Titus said.

One of the panelists, Michele Eubanks Abdul Sabur ‘69, was one of the first three African American students to ever attend Bryn Mawr in the mid-60's. This was her first time returning to campus. Through laughter and tears, she graciously shared her experience of growing up in racially and economically segregated Baltimore, and how she dealt with “subtle, hidden racism” and “diminished expectations” during her years at Bryn Mawr. Despite the challenges she faced, she said she would not have traded her time at Bryn Mawr for anything. Abdul Sabur concluded the assembly by saying, “When I came to Bryn Mawr, I wanted to be here. Even though the transition was challenging, I learned a lot about myself….I cannot tell you, looking out now, how touched, moved and pleased I am to look at Bryn Mawr’s school body today. I truly feel that it is a place that my... African American, Muslim girls and granddaughters would be safe, and would be happy, and would succeed here.”

While answering questions from students, the other three panelists spoke about how their experiences at Bryn Mawr helped shape who they are today. Dr. Kymberly Pinder ‘83, dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico, spoke about how being in the “bubble” of Bryn Mawr made her feel that women can do anything. She described how she and her classmates felt disappointed after encountering sexism in college and the workplace, but said it was her Bryn Mawr experience that emboldened her to keep going. “Yes, I was much of an anomaly here as we only had four black students in my class, but embracing that idea of being the only woman at the table, the only black person in the room, I only use that to my advantage,” Pinder said.I was the person who was always speaking up because why not, everyone’s looking at me anyway.”

High School Principal at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women Christina Jacobs Easton ‘02, echoed Dr. Pinder and said, “It was only in hindsight as I learned more about other people’s experiences outside of Bryn Mawr that I was able to really appreciate that I am not afraid of anything. Fear is a good thing and you should have it, but I don’t ever feel like fear is a reason to not do something, say something, feel something. That has everything to do with my time here.”

The alumnae also reflected on the ways Bryn Mawr has changed since they were students. Rhonda Smith Wright ‘95, P‘27, is a practice administrator for AbsoluteCARE. She compared her experience to her third grade daughter’s and said, “When I was here at Bryn Mawr, I had a great time...I’m here all the time now for Ava, for the alumnae board, maybe doing a tour in the Lower School, and it’s just really cool to see the evolution and to see these conversations happen.”

Below is a slideshow of pictures from the day’s events over excerpts of Ms.Abdul Sabur’s speech. Click here to read her full remarks.