Janina Manaloto ‘26 and Isabelle Lee ‘27
Read about another perspective here: Gray Colloquium: When Humor Crosses the Line
St Mark’s kicks off the Gray Colloquium this school year with Melvin Adams, former team captain of the Harlem Globetrotters and two-time NCAA All-American Basketball player. Adams delivered an engaging speech about the power of small acts of kindness and encouraged students worldwide to follow their dreams, regardless of their circumstances. His childhood was deeply traumatic, and he uses humor as a coping mechanism, which became apparent throughout his presentation.
Adams’ presence on campus was remarkable, as he greeted everyone with an upbeat personality, though some of his comments left some people off guard. His talk included powerful anecdotes that ranged from lighting up someone’s day and preventing their suicide to how he met his wife. His tone at the lunch gathering, however, was noticeably more subdued and focused compared to his more comedy-driven presentation during the main Gray Colloquium.
Opinions among St. Markers vary widely regarding Adam’s presentation. Adams brings a different vibe to Gray, transitioning from a 45-minute lecture to a controversial yet engaging “comedy act” with an underlying message of how kindness goes a long way. While some found his jokes hilarious—filling the auditorium with laughter—others found his humor offensive or unrelatable.
Reverend Solter expressed mixed feelings stating “I loved his message in the first 24 hours about building each other up through love and positivity. But, I think in his talk, his jokes went too far and often contradicted that message." Her opinion captures what some St. Markers felt: Adams’ humor overshadowed his overarching message, leading to this disparity between his message of kindness and the tone of his delivery.
Despite this controversy, students were quick to stand by Adams’ character, with many referencing his more subdued tone during the lunch gathering. Some speculated that his jokes were intentionally made to arouse controversy to keep the audience engaged and make his message last, though not everyone agreed with this approach.
During Talk it Out Fridays, a key question was raised: “If we put his jokes aside, can we see his underlying message?” This sparked further debate among the community about whether the controversy surrounding Adams’ remarks ultimately helped or hurt the overall impact and standing of the Colloquium.
While Melvin Adam’s Gray Colloquium left the audience divided, his core message on the importance of small acts of kindness remained impactful for many.