Duo fill air with rights leaders' words

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 20, 2005 by Lindsey Iorg Deseret Morning News

The words of Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King Jr. filled Calvary Baptist Church through the voices of Danny Glover and Felix Justice, actors who used their story-telling techniques Friday to educate the audience about racial conditions in North American history.

In celebration of Black History Month, Glover and Justice selected passages that reflected the need for unity, compassion and perseverance in achieving social justice. Although they've performed "An evening with Martin and Langston" for 14 years, this is just the second year they brought the event to Salt Lake City.

Martin Luther King Jr., known for his work during the 1960s civil rights campaign and Langston Hughes, a prominent writer who celebrated black life and culture in the 1920s, were artists who felt responsibility to address racial injustices, Glover said.

Conditions of children, education, racial injustices and welfare were some of the issues Hughes and King addressed in their works that reflected the state of the country and influenced writers universally.

"A number of artists said something about the present condition, so people could understand the present condition," Glover said.

In addition to acting, Glover is also a producer and director. He is an advocate for literacy and has spoken to elementary and high schools around the country about the power of education. Among several film credits, Glover has acted in the "Lethal Weapon" series, "The Color Purple," and "To Sleep With Anger." He is currently the Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Children's Fund.

Justice is known for "Welcome to Prophecy in America," a one-man performance based on King's writings and sermons.

Justice said the selections for his performances often come from different speeches by the assassinated civil rights leader, but the meaning is always the same.

E-mail: Liorg@desnews.com