The second event I attended was the Wyatt T. Walker and the Politics of Black Religion symposium on February 21, 2020. I was shocked that despite the instrumental role Dr. Walker played in the black freedom movement, I had never heard of him before this symposium. Serving as chief of staff for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Walker was a pastor as well as a civil rights leader. He was pastor for 37 years at Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem, New York where he used his voice to preach for tolerance and social justice in both the United States and other countries like South Africa undergoing apartheid. During this time, Dr. Walker joined with a New York businessman to found the first charter school in New York state, which still operates today.

Dr. Walker lived a fascinating and very important life that I am glad I finally learned about. One of my favorite parts of the symposium was that it brought together faculty and experts from different universities around the country to share their expertise on Dr. Walker. One of my favorite parts of the presentations was the presentation of a series of photographs taken of Dr. Walker as he was in the March on Washington, we he helped to organize and lead alongside other civil rights leaders. The photographs were beautiful and captured the emotions of those marching so clearly and vividly. Reading and learning about these events is one thing, but getting to see them captured as they happened offers an entirely new perspective. I really enjoyed getting to learn about such an influential leader and hope more people take advantage of the same opportunity.