Livingstone College Introduces Inaugural Dyson Fellows During Second Installment of Dr. Michael Eric Dyson Residency 

 

SALISBURY, N.C. — Who gets to belong, and what does it take to build a society where everyone has a place? Those questions shaped a thought-provoking conversation at Livingstone College on Oct. 29, as renowned scholar, author, and public intellectual Dr. Michael Eric Dyson challenged students, faculty, staff, and community members to examine America's history, its democratic ideals, and the work still needed to fulfill its promise. 

 

Dyson delivered a public address in audience of hundreds of attendees, titled “Who Gets to Belong? Race, Democracy, and America’s Unfinished Promise.” The event marked the second installment of his four-part Visiting Scholar-in-Residence series, which brings some of the most consequential conversations shaping Black America into the collegiate experience through lectures, student engagement opportunities, and academic experiences. 

 

Dyson's residency began Sept. 18 during Livingstone College's Opening Convocation, where he delivered his inaugural lecture, “Represent: The Unfinished Fight.” That address explored Black excellence, the enduring importance of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and the transformative power of an educated mind. The broader residency connects scholarship with lived experience through conversations spanning urban education, faith, hip-hop, politics, culture and democracy. 

 

The Oct. 29 gathering also marked an important milestone for 10 Livingstone students. Before Dyson's address, the College introduced the inaugural cohort of Dyson Fellows, recognizing students selected for their academic excellence, civic engagement and commitment to justice. The “Dyson Fellows” are Dylan Tate, Lazaria Burgess, Madison Mason, Timothy Ridenhour, Amos Isaya, Rick Lee, Emeglad Boakye-Yiadom, Julio Lara-Martinez, James Lewis and Nevaeh James. 

 

Their introduction brought an impactful student-centered dimension to the residency. The fellowship is designed to give students opportunities to engage directly with the themes explored throughout the series through research, scholarship, and capstone projects. Rather than simply listening to conversations about the issues shaping their communities, the students are being encouraged to examine those issues, develop their own perspectives, and contribute to the broader intellectual dialogue. Reinforcing the college’s commitment to relevance and readiness in scholarship. 

 

For the inaugural Fellows, the opportunity represents more than academic enrichment; it is a chance to consider how knowledge, personal conviction and civic responsibility can inform the work of building stronger communities. 

 

Rick Lee, one of the inaugural Dyson Fellows, emphasized the responsibility that accompanies higher education and the importance of applying knowledge beyond the classroom. “As an educated future leader in America, I possess many intellectual curiosities pertaining to faith, education, culture, and civic responsibility. I believe educated leaders, and citizens in general, have a moral and civic responsibility to put the knowledge they’ve gained through higher education to work in building better families, communities, and by extension, a better nation and world,” Lee said. 

 

Lee said his participation in the program also aligns with his aspirations to pursue pastoral and community ministry, using those opportunities to empower and help heal communities. 

 

For Emeglad Boakye-Yiadom, the fellowship offers an opportunity to explore how thoughtful engagement can become meaningful community impact. “My experiences as a student, mentor, and volunteer have shown me that service does not always begin with a major project or a leadership title. I want to learn how individuals can turn their concerns into constructive action,” Boakye-Yiadom said. 

 

She views the fellowship as an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of the ideas, values and institutions that shape American society while strengthening her ability to engage thoughtfully with people whose experiences and perspectives may differ from her own. 

 

During his address, Dyson connected America's history to the challenges confronting communities today. Moving from the arrival of enslaved Africans to contemporary debates over gerrymandering, educational access and civic participation, he challenged the audience to consider how race and historical memory continue to influence who is heard, represented and afforded the opportunity to participate fully in American life. 

 

“Belonging is critical as a measure of who we are as a people,” Dyson said. “It is also a symptom and a sign of the health of a democracy that we include everybody.” 

 

Dyson also questioned the idea that American society operates on merit alone, pointing to the nation's history of slavery and patriarchy as evidence of the longstanding barriers that have limited opportunity and equality. 

 

“If it was about merit, there would be no slavery,” Dyson said. “If it was about merit, there would be no patriarchy.” 

 

His remarks challenged listeners to look beyond the language of equality and consider whether the nation's institutions and practices reflect the democratic ideals they claim to uphold. 

 

That responsibility, Dyson emphasized, extends beyond any single election or presidential administration. 

 

“The promise is bigger than one administration,” he said. “The government is permanent. Administrations come and go.” 

 

He encouraged students and community members to recognize voting as an essential expression of civic participation, emphasizing that decisions made in local elections often have a direct impact on everyday life. From the drawing of voting districts to accountability in public institutions and the books available in school libraries, Dyson reminded the audience that democracy is shaped not only by national leadership but also by decisions made within local communities. 

 

“It isn’t just a national election. It’s the local one that matters, too,” he said. 

 

For students preparing to take on greater roles in their communities, the message carried an important reminder: civic responsibility requires more than casting a ballot. It also means remaining informed, asking difficult questions, and being willing to speak up when circumstances demand it. 

 

Dyson closed by recognizing the contributions of historically Black colleges and universities, including Livingstone, whose foundations were built through resilience, intellectual pursuit, and a commitment to community advancement. He also warned of continuing threats to democracy, including voter suppression, political intimidation, and efforts to remove Black history and narratives from classroom instruction. 

 

His closing remarks returned to a central theme of the day: doing what is right often requires courage, particularly when doing so is neither easy nor convenient. 

 

“Sometimes the right thing is the hard thing,” Dyson said. “Sometimes the right thing is the inconvenient thing. Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do ... And we must stand up and be brave.” 

 

Through the four-part residency and the establishment of the Dyson Fellows, Livingstone College is creating opportunities for students to engage with distinguished scholars and explore issues that extend beyond the classroom. The initiative reflects a commitment to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and the development of students who understand the relationship between education, community, and civic responsibility. 

 

As the residency continues, the conversations will extend beyond the auditorium and into the experiences, perspectives and aspirations of the students participating in the program. For the inaugural Dyson Fellows, the opportunity is not simply to study the questions shaping society, but to develop the knowledge and confidence to help answer them.