On January 8, the Poly Upper School community gathered for its annual assembly to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s program was presented by the newly formed Race in Film Club and offered a unique perspective on King’s message by exploring the representation of Black Americans in media.
Unlike previous years, this year the assembly shifted its focus from traditional historical narratives to the influence of media on racial perceptions. Jared Winston, the director of student life at Poly, explained the reasoning behind this year’s approach: “This year for our annual Global MLK assembly, we put trust in the hands of a few senior leaders here at Poly… who have taken it upon themselves to speak to the community more broadly about how media shapes our impressions of the realities that marginalized identity groups face in the United States of America.”
The Race in Film Club, led by seniors Penel Ghartey ’25, Daryl Eshun ’25, and Ocean DeGraaf ’25, organized the presentation with the guidance of faculty advisors Carmelo Larose, English faculty, and Iman Stultz, director of campus library services. Larose and Stultz are also the Upper School DEIB coordinators. DeGraaf emphasized the club’s mission: “As an avid film watcher and someone who enjoys acting, my goal as co-founder of Race in Film, along with Daryl and Penel, is to advocate and acknowledge racial injustice, specifically in cinema.” In this assembly specifically, the club’s goal was to illustrate how Black stories have historically been told through media and the importance of underrepresented communities reclaiming their own narratives.
Throughout the assembly, students examined the portrayal of Black Americans in film and television. They referenced influential works like The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Selma (2014). The goal of the presentation of these two works was to show how the media has historically portrayed black Americans and how the portrayal of Black Americans has changed from then to today. Sometimes these videos reinforced harmful stereotypes, while at other times they challenged them. Regarding the choice of clips shown during the assembly, DeGraaf explained, “The goal in choosing the specific clips presented was to communicate essential moments of Black history pioneered by the late Dr. Martin Luther King.” Winston emphasized the significance of this theme. He stated, “By examining how stories around Blackness were told on their behalf, we’re able to understand the difference between that which the media might share and that which people might actually experience.” This assembly aimed to highlight the power of media in shaping cultural perceptions and the ongoing struggle for authentic representation in film and other forms of storytelling.
The Race in Film Club leaders decided to include a part of King’s speech in the assembly that he delivered at the conclusion of the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. Here he passionately declared, “If we are wrong, then God is wrong.” Winston reflected on this moment, saying that “The most powerful element of this year’s presentation wasn’t a video. It was an audio clip with an attached script of what Dr. King was saying in the moment… fostering a certain resolve among those seeking change that their message was worth fighting for.” While this audio was playing, the room was filled with a sense of reflection, as sometimes humans tend to forget that to stand for what is right means standing up against society even if society believes that thing is wrong.
This presentation felt particularly timely given that the assembly took place right in the heart of political transition in the U.S. Winston pointed out the broader significance of the assembly occurring in the context of a recent presidential election when stating that “It’s not every year that the MLK assembly happens right around the time of a presidential inauguration, which is typically a tense cultural moment in the United States. I think that context lent a certain seriousness and respect to this year’s presentation.” The Race in Film Club effectively tied King’s legacy to contemporary challenges, encouraging students to reflect on how they can contribute to the ongoing fight for racial equality.
As the assembly concluded, the message was clear: young people have a crucial role to play in shaping the future. Winston emphasized the importance of questioning inherited systems and seeking meaningful change. He stated that “Young people inherit systems and young people inherit context… If we are not constantly in that conversation, then generationally there’s a disconnect, and if we have a generational disconnect we are not able to work together as a civil society.” Echoing this sentiment, DeGraaf emphasized why it was essential for students to lead the assembly, rather than adults: “The value of students presenting content like this in contrast to adults is because it gives students the freedom to advocate for a topic they are passionate about.” The assembly served both as a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and a call to action for students to continue the work of challenging systems to bring society together.
Poly’s MLK Day assembly not only honored a great historical figure but also encouraged students to reflect on how media shapes their understanding of race and identity. By empowering students to take the lead, this year’s program proved to be one of the most engaging and thought-provoking in recent years. Eshun closed the assembly by stating that
“the work of MLK reminds us of the power of representation and equality in every aspect of society, including media. We see progress through more diverse stories and voices today, but there’s still work. By amplifying underrepresented voices, we can honor MLK’s vision of a world where everyone’s story is valued.” As the Race in Film Club continues to grow, the hope is that conversations around race and representation will extend beyond MLK Day and become an ongoing dialogue within the Poly community.
