The university-wide celebration of the life and teachings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., commenced last night with dramatic representations of various historic figures who have fought for freedom.

Based on the theme "The Shoulders We Stand On," the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet focused on the need for social activists to uplift all oppressed people and look to their ancestors for inspiration.

"Dr. King was concerned with all humanity," said Beverly Vandiver, president of the Forum on Black Affairs, the group that organized the event.

Last night's celebration was one of the many events sponsored by the Penn State community to commemorate the hero of civil rights. In addition to the Day of Service activities scheduled for Monday, this week's schedule includes everything from a celebratory march to a weeklong film series in the HUB-Robeson Center.

The banquet began in a large, high-ceilinged auditorium of the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Men, women and children from the community gathered at the finely decorated tables and listened to a cappella vocal performances, brief speeches and an awards presentation.

After dinner, the Essence of Joy choir performed. Their songs were followed by a series of readings by Penn State students.

Each of the student speakers represented a different figure in the history of the struggles of oppressed people, including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Robert Johnson, Mahatma Ghandi, Lorraine Hansberry, Barbara Jordan, Malcolm X, Tupac Shakur, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

The idea was conceived as a glimpse of four dramatic pieces written by Penn State graduate students in the School of Theatre. The pieces will be performed Saturday at the Pavilion Theatre.

Monifi Jones, who portrayed black playwright Lorraine Hansberry in last night's performance, is one of the authors.

She said her thesis research gave her insight into the pivotal character of Hansberry, who became the first black woman to write a Broadway hit when she authored A Raisin in the Sun.

"She tackled the problems she saw in the world and remained confident that human beings can overcome anything," Jones said.

Hansberry's work as a social activist in the African liberation and American civil rights movements motivated Jones to pursue a career in politics.

"She (Hansberry) felt that the artist has a social responsibility," Jones said. "She's been an inspiration to me in reconciling art and politics."

Jarvis George, also a graduate student in theater, portrayed civil rights leader Frederick Douglass. George spoke Douglass' famous words: "We are one, our cause is one and we must help each other if we are to succeed."

"He's a model for those who are fighting for freedom in today's society," George said.

"That struggle is something to understand and to take up arms against together," he added.

Charles Dumas, co-chair of the banquet committee, said the speakers aimed to honor their ancestors.

"It is a way of saying that we did not get here on our own, we got here by the strength of those who came before," he said.