Gandhi-King Memorial

Gandhi-King Dinner features African American Advocate

By William Doyle-Marshall

Professor Gary Warner of McMaster University who heads an Ad hoc Committee in the City of Hamilton, retired from the university in 2006 following a span of exciting changes during which time he has been recognized many times for his efforts in the field of education and providing community service. Speaking recently with the Trinidad Guardian, he was proud that he has been able to see his career evolve in different directions having been hired initially as a Seventeenth Century French Literature Specialist in July 1967. Apart for a two year period when he took time off to work in Sierra Leone, Professor Warner has spent his career within the confines of the academic world of this major Hamilton, Ontario educational institution.

Growing up in Trinidad he listened to Trinidadian students from McGilll University, University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia talk about their studies and that sowed the seed in his mind that Canada is a place he should explore. So he came to Canada after graduating and living in France for seven years to apply for a job in his field of specialty and he was hired.

Daryl Davis, author, musician, advocate

“Living Gandhi and King Today: Transforming Hate” is the theme for a March 22 dinner at the Hamilton Convention Center, engaging Professor Warner’s attention. African-American Daryl Davis, author, musician and actor will deliver the keynote address. Following there will be a question and answer session and a musical interlude.

Warner and some colleagues who have been associated with the Gandhi Peace movement in Hamilton, Ontario associated with McMaster’s Center for Peace Studies got together in 2008 to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the assassination of Gandhi and the 40^th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Because both men’s names are so associated and it was 100 years of their combined assassination they agreed that an event should be held to represent their qualities in terms of peace, human rights, non-violence and associated values. Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles who was on the balcony with Dr. King when he was shot, was the featured speaker at that function.

Daryl Davis plays the piano

This year the committee is bringing Davis, who faced racial discrimination as a child and undertook a dangerous project that involved meeting with and questioning members of the Klu Klux Klan to understand why they hated people of African heritage. He represents the notion of the event’s sub title “Transforming Hate”, says Professor Warner. “Even when there seems to be unbridgeable and chasms between people; when there is hatred in our communities, it is possible to reach beyond those chasms and establish a human contact. That is what Daryl Davis did at no small physical risk to his own life,” the scholar explained.

Professor Warner’s efforts have resulted in numerous awards like the Order of Canada and being named Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 2005, St. Mary’s College, his alma mater recognized him about six years ago and he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of that institution. His picture is on the wall with other distinguished people who graduated from St. Mary’s College. He still cherishes growing up in the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago and attending its good schools like St. Mary’s, Queen’s Royal College and Presentation College. “I happen to have gone to a really great school and when I think of the people I sat in class with, it was really a wonderful experience and I had a wonderful education in Trinidad.

March 21, 2013