Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu gives the Dotson Family Keynote Address at FIU on Jan. 17, 2025
How do we empower the next generation of audacious leaders? By reminding them that “the struggle for a better world has never been easy,” Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu said in a keynote address at FIU’s 34th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Breakfast on Jan. 17.
Tutu – a renowned human rights activist, economist and development consultant in West Africa, and the daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu – was raised in South Africa during apartheid and witnessed firsthand her father’s leadership among the fight to end racial segregation and establish a democratic government in the nation.
She shared a conversation she had with her grandmother after the first election in which they were allowed to vote – Tutu was 34 and her grandmother 91 at the time. Her grandmother reminded her that when she was a child, Tutu was often chided for earning low marks on her report cards at school, to which Tutu once replied that apartheid had already determined what she could become as an adult, so why try to achieve more than that?
“What you see now is not always how it is going to be,” Tutu told the audience, recalling her grandmother’s advice. “To be audacious, you have to know that what you are struggling for might not happen tomorrow, or next year, or even in your lifetime… change has never happened overnight… and if you are looking for an easy struggle, you are out of luck.”
Each year, the commemorative breakfast kicks off a suite of program and events celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with other highlights including:
- the MLK Day of Service, in which hundreds of volunteers from FIU and the local community gather at sites across Miami-Dade County to perform service projects; sites this year included Lotus House, Hope for Miami, Historic Hampton House, and Citizens for a Better South Florida
- the Robert M. Coatie Youth Forum, hosted at the Biscayne Bay Campus with a goal to inspire middle and high school students across the community to achieve their best and follow King’s ideals; this year’s keynote speaker was Melqaam Shaw, a Gates Millennium Scholar, speaker, educator and author
This year’s breakfast served as tribute to Coatie, who was the founder of the MLK Commemorative Celebration and a director of the former Office of Multicultural Programs and Services. Coatie passed in 2024 and is remembered as a fierce advocate for student success.
“Like Dr. King, [Coatie] was an ordained minister and man of profound faith and wisdom – wisdom that he would not hesitate to share and that he could share for hours. Soft-spoken in his delivery, but strong and meaningful in the messages, he offered a great lesson on humanity, respect and the value of diversity. His teachings inspired individuals to embrace diversity, leading to stronger, more supportive relationships among the FIU community,” said Jeannette Cruz, senior director of the Office of Student Access and Success and a longtime member of the MLK planning committee.
The breakfast also highlights student achievements, and each year, three student scholarships are awarded for essay submissions discussing the persistence of King’s ideals and work. This year, the following students were recognized for their submissions:
- Kyara Patterson, sophomore biology major
- Jamar Ricky Wallace, junior physics major
- Gabriela Hernandez, junior information technology major
Additionally, Jahnee Smith, a senior double-majoring in Global Studies and Women and Gender Studies, received the MLK Peace Award for work supporting homeless LGBTQIA+ youth. Smith is a Golden Scholar, a member of Fostering Panther Pride and a recipient of the nationally acclaimed Truman Scholarship.
The 2025 MLK Service Award was given to Valeria Perez, program coordinator in the Centers for Student Engagement, for going above and beyond in her commitment to the engagement with and success of all FIU students.
And an impassioned, original, spoken-word performance by junior nursing major Amelia Hinds, which earned a standing ovation from the audience, challenged guests to consider the mark they wish to leave on the world, asking, “Who are you? Who are you called to be?”
Guests were also treated to steelpan renditions of popular hits throughout the program, performed by junior engineering major Demetry Joseph.
In a call to action, Tutu reminded the audience that one does not have to be the most outspoken in the room nor the one at the front of the line to be an audacious leader.
“You can be a leader simply by how you carry yourself in the world…” Tutu said, adding, “We don’t necessarily have to be the one on the stage to be the one who makes a difference.”
Next year’s celebration will mark the 35th anniversary of the FIU MLK Commemorative Celebration. The full schedule of events and guest speakers will be announced on the event website, mlk.fiu.edu.