FSU Golden Torch Lecture Series welcomes Ziwe Fumudoh during 37th annual MLK Week celebration

Florida State University’s Student Government Association, in collaboration with Union Productions and the Office of Student Agencies and Institutes, welcomed author and comedian Ziwe Fumudoh for the annual Golden Torch Lecture Series Tuesday, Jan. 14, as part of the university community’s 37th MLK Week celebration.

The evening featured performances by the FSU Gospel Choir and School of Dance student Nailah Lee, recognized the MLK Book Stipend awardees and concluded with Fumudoh’s keynote conversation.

“The student talent that kicked off the evening — from our emcee and gospel choir to the dancer and FSU ROTC Color Guard — perfectly embodied the theme ‘United We Stand,’” said Felicia Williams, director of FSU’s Department of Student Engagement. “Their performances captured the spirit of unity and strength that Dr. King’s legacy represents. We were also honored to welcome Ziwe Fumudoh as our keynote speaker. Her thought-provoking words and sharp wit inspired and challenged us all to continue the work of building a more compassionate society.”

Fumudoh is a Nigerian-American author and comedian known for her satirical commentary on race relations in the modern era. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied radio, television, film and African American studies. In 2017, Fumudoh created “Baited with Ziwe,” a show on YouTube that, in her own words, “allows viewers to laugh about race while still acknowledging its complexity.” In October 2020, the first season of “Ziwe,” Fumudoh’s variety show on Showtime, was announced. Its six episodes featured sketches, musical numbers and interviews with celebrity guests including Fran Lebowitz, Bowen Yang, Phoebe Bridgers, Julio Torres and Stacey Abrams.

During the keynote, Fumudoh discussed her approach to personal style, navigating a “nontraditional” career path, and how aligning one’s interests and skills can help individuals be their authentic selves.

“Being yourself is the only thing you’re going to be a star at,” she said.

The humorous and inspiring conversation also touched on the importance of nonviolence that MLK’s life’s work emphasized, and the legacy that has left on Fumudoh’s life and professional career, noting how nonviolence brings the community together.

“Have open ears and be actively willing to listen to ideas contrary to yours,” Fumudoh said. “You have to listen to people you disagree with, that is how we can connect with each other and unite to create a better world.”

The evening honored five MLK Book Stipend awardees and two MLK Distinguished Service awardees. Undergraduate student Khameron Jones and graduate student Enyinnaya Chinatu were awarded the MLK Book Stipend and the FSU National Black Alumni selected three awardees: Breoshia Jones, Britnee Blake and Brinya Kydd. The MLK Distinguished Service Award was given to Assistant Dean for Culture & Community Engagement Keithen Mathis from the FSU College of Social Work and Elaine Howard, strategic projects and community engagement at FSU’s College of Communication and Information.

“I was extremely honored to emcee the Golden Torch Lecture Series because I not only got to commemorate the remarkable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but also shared a stage with a prominent Black woman: Ziwe,” said Serena Petit, president of the Black Student Union. “I feel it’s so important to continue having programming like this because it illustrates how far we’ve come and how much further we have to go. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a trailblazer and deserves to be celebrated.”

MLK Week aims to bring the FSU and Tallahassee communities together to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Events that were originally scheduled through Jan. 25, were impacted by the winter storm and are working on being rescheduled for future dates.

For more information and to stay up to date with rescheduled events, visit mlk.fsu.edu.

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