Christel House Watanabe High School freshmen celebrated Black History Month by welcoming Dr. Kent Millard to the school. Millard, the Head Pastor of St. Luke’s Church in Indianapolis, spoke about his experiences with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement.

Christel House teacher, Christine Rush, opened the morning event by singing the first verse of the official African American National Hymn, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”.

Then Dr. Millard, who met Dr. King while attending college in Boston, shared how he was inspired by the civil rights leader. He spoke of joining Dr. King in a civil rights march in Alabama where only days before, people were killed by the Ku Klux Klan.

“Dr. King practiced and taught ‘non-violent resistance,’” said Dr. Millard. “Anyone can hit back,” he continued, “but it takes real courage not to respond.”

Dr. Millard challenged the students not to judge others. “We should all be able to sit at the table together, no matter what race, religion or color of skin,” he said.