WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Triad reflected on Martin Luther King Jr.'s mission Monday.
Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest University partnered for an event.
The makeups of the two schools couldn't be much more different. They came together to discuss efforts to bridge the gap in equity.
Monday was the two universities' 24th Annual MLK Day event. This year's theme was about making our voices heard.
Speakers talked about how oftentimes black people are Invited to sit at the table but don't have a voice.
And how society as a whole needs to move from a place of celebrating to activating change.
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is considered a Historically Black College and University or HBCU.
Wake Forest University (WFU) is considered a predominantly White Institution or PWI.
WSSU senior Brianna Higgs said as a society we have a long way to go but believes Dr. King would be proud of how far we've come and the efforts by both universities to bridge the gap.
"As an HBCU student partnering with PWI's helps to bridge the gap between us and teach each other about our own cultures because PWI's and HBCU's have very different cultures," Higgs said. "I think it's important for us to educate each other and it bridges the gap that MLK wanted to do."
One of the speakers on Monday shared how zip codes directly correlate with who will live the "American Dream."
He said 51% of our country's poverty is in the southeast where there's the largest number of black and brown people.
Orlando Mitchell works for WSSU.
He said it's going to take the youth to see this trajectory change.
"Encouraging the youth to use their voices for good, for justice and not just for one but for all and understand the definition between equity and equality," Mitchell said. "There's a huge difference."
The discussion ended with a mission for the public to be understanding and work with our differences rather than against them.