Every year Americans observe Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday in January, a federal holiday celebrated around January 15th, the day of his birth. The purpose of the celebration is to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy—a civil rights movement activist who promoted justice, equality, and peace. The holiday invites people to consider his speeches and unwavering dedication to an inclusive society.

On January 15, at the Fargo Theatre, many students from all over the Fargo-Moorhead area celebrated 55 years of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. Umoja 55 is a youth event that takes place every year on January 15th enduring the values of Martin Luther King Jr in a captivating 2.5-3-hour performance. This year’s theme was seeing Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in the Afro-Futuristic lens. Within those hours, viewers were introduced to the boundless talents of our local youth.

One of the Fargo South performers, Eve Lawia showcased her art piece entitled “The Unknown” on the side; she had a poem that describes the art piece. Abrina Etilo performed her speech that talked about identity, which can be found on the backcover of last month’s issue of the Sudhian. Lastly, the one that stunned the audience with her beautiful voice, Jael Millien, sang “What If” by India Aries. There were also other performers including the Fargo Davies Choir which was led by Carly Grandner. Afro-All-Star dancers also participated, and the Keynote Speaker was Zinnia Marquette.