Associate Director of Community, Inclusion, and Equity Dr. Joe Valentine-White ’07 gave opening remarks at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the day before Dr. King would have turned 97 years old had he not been assassinated in 1968. He encouraged students, as they reflect on this day, to ask themselves: What change can you make — at Gilman, in your community, and in the world?

After Black Student Union (BSU) President Masiah Chase ’26 led everyone in prayer, the Middle and Upper School string ensembles played a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” led by Director of Music Ariel Dechosa.

Head of School Henry Smyth spoke to the audience of faculty, staff, and students in grades 2–12 about a book by Dr. King titled “Strength to Love” and the ideas there within. “Having the strength to love, finding strength in love, and showing strength through love; three things that I challenge us to do,” he said. “Dr. King employed all of these things to stand up to hate and injustice and used those powerful tools to effect incredible, lasting change on our country and on our world.” Smyth acknowledged that while this task is not easy to do, “if we do that, we will help to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy by helping to make the world a better place.”

Led by Middle School Director of Music Thomas Hochla, with Lower School Music Teacher Amy Cyman accompanying them on piano, vocal ensembles from all three divisions sang “Love Never Leaves.” The Upper School Jazz Ensemble followed with “Song for My Father,” led by the group’s director Cheryl Nkeba.

Valentine-White, along with BSU Vice President Marcus Turpin ’27, Upper School English Teacher Tim Holley ’77, and recent Gilman graduate and Morgan State University student Marcus Walker ’23, participated in a panel-style discussion. The conversation included themes of how Dr. King’s legacy shaped their experiences at Gilman and how their Gilman education prepared them to engage with issues of justice and equality.

“Gilman is what you make it,” said Walker. “If you pay attention in your classes … they’re always telling you how you can make a change … and they’re giving you the blueprint.” Turpin had a similar sentiment when he encouraged students to take action on issues that call to them and highlighted a few clubs with a cause at Gilman. He emphasized the importance of discerning factual information from biased opinions before sharing it. 

Turpin also spoke about King’s perseverance and how students at Gilman can be inspired to keep going when things are challenging, just as the historical figure did. “We can set our goals higher … And when it does get difficult, what do you do at that point? Do you stop or do you keep going?” Valentine-White echoed the student’s thoughts when he said, “No matter how hard things can be, I have to maintain hope, and I have to envision a world that can be better, not just for myself but for others.”

Walker expressed his thoughts about the unique fellowship that exists at the School. “In a community like Gilman, it’s important that we look beyond our differences and … we hold on to one another. That’s what brotherhood is,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing that I walked away from Gilman with.” 

A highlight of the dialogue was Holley’s recollection of MLK’s assassination, a time when “Dr. King was not as much of a hero as he is now.” In fact, at 9 years old, Holley didn’t even know who Dr. King was before he was assassinated. Holley’s parents, having been exposed to the Jim Crow South, largely protected Holley and his brothers from what was going on in the world. “Dr. King’s legacy rises out of [the volatile 1960s] where we were really a divided nation,” he said. Fast-forward to 1985 when Holley returned to Gilman as a teacher: Though the MLK holiday would not be observed until 1986, Dr. King was beginning to be seen as an American hero. “He was certainly revered as a person who stood up for something that was important in his time.”

In 1987, Holley created the African American Literature elective that is still offered at Gilman today, now taught by Valentine-White. Walker noted that he not only learned about African American writers in that class; he also learned about himself.

“The wonderful thing about this school, of which I’m very proud,” Holley said, is “that all you lads in here … you are being put in the position to be leaders, and at some point you will be put in a position to influence other people. Don’t take that lightly.”

After applause for the panel, and a standing ovation for Holley, whom Valentine-White referred to as “a member of Gilman lore and legend,” BSU historian Zavier Quick introduced the Black national anthem — “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — which was then performed by the Treble T’s and the Traveling Men. Caleb Wilson ’26, co-president of FOCUS Bible Study, offered the benediction to close out the ceremony.

Watch the convocation

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