`Pulse of Mourning' strikes the heart of PS By Pete Strella Press & Journal Reporter One thing was certain to the people who watched a 40-minute play at Penn State Harrisburg to celebrate Martin Luther King Day last Monday. A lot of things have changed for the better since 1936. Over 80 people gathered in the school's Capital Union Building to witness a performance of "The Pulse of Mourning," an original script set in 1936 that was written and directed by area playwright Dr. Dorothy E. King. Touching on themes such as racism, education and the impor tance of family, the play centered around the Canes, a South Carolina family mourning the death of a brother who had been lynched by a mob. The 11-member cast hit an emotional nerve behind lead actors Cassandra Taylor, who played the family's mother Contessa Cane, and Leonard Washington, who filled the role of Uncle Royal Trusty. King's script was filled with poignant sayings that summed up characters' feelings in one line. "I know that the final word comes from God," said Contessa when told that her son's killer may be found not guilty. "I want to start over," said sister Cora Cane, played by Monika Ross, in support of her mother's quest to move up North. "He is not responsible for their actions," said Leland Stanford, who defended the brother's accused killer, Davis Jefferson, arguing that Jefferson's words may have provoked the mob to lynch the brother, Shea, but that Jefferson was "not responsible for their actions." King Jr. celebrated By Cortez Bailey Staff Reporter cdbl4l@psu.edu On January 17, Penn State Harrisburg celebrated the legacy and lifelong works of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King was assassinated over three decades ago and became the personification of the civil rights struggle/movement that gained momentum during the late fifties and culminated in the sixties. Local residents came out in full force to commemorate King's teachings and ensure that King's legacy continues to live on. The program featured the Middletown area high school jazz ensemble, the Beulah Baptist church dancers, and the Capital Presbyterian Kids Haven(CPKH) martial arts com pany, among others. From left, front row: Shawn Siegle, Cassandra Taylor; back row: David Payne, Tiffany Tirado, Monika Ross, Joy Hymon and Leonard Washington. MIN NMI David Payne tips his hat. Payne was one of an 11-member cast in "The Pulse of Mourning," an original script by Dr. Dorothy E. King. Kevin Preston, CPKH's martial arts instructor, was the winner of the 2004 annual Koushu world champion competition held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Preston said that the school's success is a testament to the students, as well as their parents' hard work and dedication. Preston also expressed his appreciation for community institutions' choice to become active in sustaining Dr. King's legacy. Preston also said that the CPKH school serves in the development of his students as people of character as well as martial artists. The highlight of the program was when PSH's own Barbara Thompson reflected on her active role in the civil rights movement, and how it related to students then as opposed to now. Thompson, who is the director of the department of community affairs, was active in Photo by Calobe Jackson the 1963 civil rights protests in Birmingham, Alabama. She also marched with Dr. King as a tenth grader and gave an insightful account to the political/social cli mate that fueled the movement. "There was a sense of urgency; jails were filled with students," she said. Thompson went on to point out the importance of diver sity in academia and urged the parents in attendance to become pro-active in the educational development of their children. Although pleased with the over all success of the event, Thompson expressed that she would have been happier to see a higher turnout of PSH stu dents. Her reasoning for why the presence of PSH students was important was because she felt that it was vital for the communi ty to see the diverse make-up of our student body. Dr. King, through his teachings and ideas, championed the prin ciples that women/men (for my feminist philosophy class) had inalienable rights and as a result, a functional integrated society was not only possible but also inevitable in the continued evolu tion of our nation as a whole. Whether we hold the same philosophies, ideologies, or beliefs as Dr. King is irrelevant. As a matter of fact, those who are in sharp contrast to what King represented should appre ciate him the most, for he, by example, made them realize that the observation of the principles of the Constitution were not merely a convenience, but an obligation. 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