Ada Perlman, Contributing Photographer

On Monday night, the pews in Battell Chapel were filled to the brim with students, faculty and New Haven community members to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event featured performances from Shades of Yale and New Haven’s Poet Laureate Sharmont “Influence” Little. After Reverend Barber’s sermon, Dr. Eboni Marshall Turman, assistant professor of theology and African American religion, spoke in conversation with him. 

Vice President of University Life Kimberly Goff-Crews emphasized the importance of King’s legacy in the context of Yale. 

“King believed in the power of education to change society, and we are grateful now for this opportunity this evening to listen and to learn as we honor him,” said Goff-Crews.

Barber currently directs Yale Divinity School’s Center for Public Theology and Public Policy. He is one of America’s most well-known religious leaders and has given keynote addresses at hundreds of national conferences, including the 2016 Democratic National Convention and the 59th Inaugural Prayer Service for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Gregory Sterling, dean of Yale Divinity School, introduced Barber, calling him a “prophet.” In his introduction, he spoke of the role that prophets played in Ancient Israel. 

“They often stood independently from their contemporaries, challenging their society to pay attention to the poor,” said Sterling. 

He mentioned that the United States has also had some prophets in its history, such as Frederick Douglass, whose speeches and sermons helped lead to the abolition of slavery and the reconstruction movement.

“A second was Dr. Martin Luther King who led the Civil Rights Movement that changed American society. The third is the leader of the current third reconstruction movement, the Bishop William Barber,” Sterling said. 

In his sermon, Barber combined historical anecdotes with quotes from Dr. King’s final speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” He criticized President Trump and the current wealth gap in America. 

“We cannot claim we love the message of Dr. King while we support policy that contradict his vision. This is the very thing we don’t need, because it would exhibit a bad piece of continuing social disagreement. You try to honor Dr. King today, but then undercut unions in different ways tomorrow. It will be terribly two-faced to honor Dr. King today, but to scapegoat immigrants with mass deportation tomorrow,” Barber said as he was met with applause from the audience. 

He encouraged the audience not to give up hope even in the face of the new presidential administration. 

“Nothing would be more tragic than for us to turn around at this point,” said Barber. 

Barber emphasized the idea from Dr. King’s last sermon that the people who are devoted to justice should know who they are.

“The thing [King] was concerned about the most was that those who were the devotees of justice knew who they were. And tonight, I want to suggest that in this moment there is nothing more important than for you to know who you are,” said Barber. 

After ending with the famous quote, “I’ve been to the mountaintop and have seen the promised land,” Barber invited attendees to stand at the front of the chapel and link hands with one another. They repeated after him saying, “This is what the extremists are afraid of.” 

He then asked those standing at the front to step forward and repeat: “That’s the only direction that we know. Forward together. And one day when it’s all over, right will win, love will win, justice will win, mercy will win, goodness will win, and the glory shall be ours.” 

Battell Chapel is located at 400 College St.