Danny Glover connects with students through poetry

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His eyes were slightly closed and his voice flowed with enrapturing words about rivers older than time.

“… I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers…”

Actor and advocate Danny Glover gave numerous renditions of poetry Tuesday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium from the renowned poet Langston Hughes, along with long-time friend Felix Justice who performed speeches from political advocate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

During “An Evening with Martin & Langston,” a standing-room-only crowd listened to Glover and Justice, a performance part of Martin Luther King Jr. Week at Central Michigan University. Glover drew from Hughes’ spirit as he recited works such as “The Negro Speaks Rivers,“ “Weary Blues,“ “Mother to Son,” “As I Grew Older,” and “Let America Be America Again,” to name a few.

Justice performed a variety of King’s speeches and noted his character and commitment to a cause he died for.

“(King) had the courage that so many of us lack,” Justice said. “…To let his light shine. I call upon you let your light shine. In order to be an individual of absolute integrity, you must let your light shine when things are hard.”

Glover said King was all about saving souls.

“When we begin to spend more money on war than on human beings we’re moving toward a moral bankruptcy,” Glover said of wars current and past.

The event started about an hour late because of a late flight Glover had from doing charitable work for the Haiti earthquake. Some of his plans had to change, said Traci Guinn, Minority Student Services director.

“I think it was well received; we had a lot of guests from Ferris, Detroit, Saginaw,” Guinn said. “I hope that students were able to receive something and take something away that will either cause them or encourage them to research more on Martin and Langston or even do some things of their own.”

Stephen Repicky said his challenges pale in comparison to the movement and message of Dr. King.

“This event really puts the difficulties that I thought were overwhelming into perspective for me,” the Grosse Pointe junior said. “I was a little leery at first (waiting) but it was more than worth the wait.”

Detroit senior Carly Wilson introduced the speakers and said it was an honor.

“I truly believe in the life and legacy of Dr. King and for them to come and re-enact some of the history and message behind his movement I really feel like for me it became personal,” Wilson said.