MC Lyte, who was raised in Brooklyn, New York, has had a successful career in the entertainment business. Lyte was one of the first female rappers to bring attention to the sexism and misleading notions about women that often run rampant in hip-hop. We're excited to have this activist and prominent hip-hop icon serve as our breakfast keynote speaker for the first all-day celebration of MLK Day on January 21, 2008.
Go online to.http://ithaca.edu/csli/forms/mlkday.htm to pre-register to attend any of the events scheduled for that day.
MC Lyte was the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall and was the first female rapper to record a gold single. Lyte became the first female solo rapper to be nominated for a Grammy with her 1993 anthem and classic single, "Ruffneck."
As an actress, she has appeared on several TV shows, including Moesha, In the House, The District, and New York Undercover. To date, MC Lyte has released 10 albums and has co-written and performed the television theme songs for Fox's Dark Angel and BET's Holla.
Lyte is also very active in many social projects, contributing her time and expertise to anti-violence campaigns, Rock the Vote, and several other nonprofit organizations.
Ithaca College will celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 21, 2008, with its first-ever "Day On, Not a Day Off." As this year's holiday falls on the usual first day of classes, President Peggy R. Williams has declared this to be a day of reflection, learning, and celebration. Students will not have classes and the campus community will participate in a variety of activities throughout the day.
Here is the exciting schedule of events!
8:30–10:00 a.m.
Breakfast featuring keynote speaker MC Lyte
Hill Center
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Daylong service projects at various off-campus agencies (see more information at: https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20071218151924290/print)
(transportation provided)
10:00–11:30 a.m.
Interactive workshops presented by various schools and departments
Professors Asma Barlas and Sean Eversley-Bradwell from The Center for Culture, Race and Ethnicity in the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies will offer a joint presentation and discussion on the topics of "Recontextualizing and Remixing King" and "King for Our Times."
The School of Health Science and Human Performance will show a DVD of the MLK Symposium held at the Rochester Crozer Divinity School in 2007, entitled "Integrated Health Care: Autism"
12:00–1:30 p.m.
Community MLK celebration luncheon
featuring Professor Alan Gomez
BJM Elementary School Gymnasium
(transportation provided)
2:00–3:30 p.m.
Interactive workshops presented by various schools and departments
Craig Duncan (H&S) will present, "Rule of Law; Rule of Justice: A Philosophical Reading of Martin Luther King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail.' "
Robert Sullivan (H&S/DIIS) will lead an informal discussion, "An Invitational Rhetoric on Martin Luther King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail.' "
4:00–5:30 p.m. AND 5:40–7:00 p.m.
"Reflections on the Movement"
An interactive theater experience produced by first-year students of the MLK Scholars Program
Emerson Suites
8:15 p.m.
Second Annual MLK Celebration Concert
Hosted by the School of Music
Ford Hall
You won't want to miss a minute of this historic event, so check back into your rooms early (residence halls reopen for returning students at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19) and prepare for an exciting day of learning and service as Ithaca College works to "Keep the Dream Alive."
For more information, contact Deb Mohlenhoff (dmohlen@ithaca.edu), John Rawlins (jrawlins@ithaca.edu) or Doreen Hettich-Atkins (dhettichatkins@ithaca.edu).
