MLK Day Is Celebrated
Monday would have marked civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 89th birthday as it was the nation’s 38th anniversary of MLK Jr. Day as a federal holiday. Locally many took to the street for a march from the courthouse steps to Springfield Baptist Church in solidarity to honor the peaceful philosophies of the slain spokesman.
Some three dozen walkers and a caravan of four vehicles traveled around the Square onto Funderburg Drive then onto MLK Drive and finally onto Hillsboro Street where the march concluded at Springfield Baptist. With Jasper County Sheriff Department escorts the entire duration, marchers made brief stops at St. James A.M.E. Church and at the old Washington Park School for moments of prayer.
With marchers warmed up from the chilly temperatures, a music and drama program entitled “Back Dowm Memory Lane” was presented inside Springfield where the number of MLK, Jr. Day participants grew. The presentation was a collaboration Get Ahead House youth and Springfield musicians and members including Jason Jones, Moses Manning, Joshua Manning, Glenasia Stewart, Cavanna Asbell, Aurriona George, Chloe Byrd, Jurnee Thurman, Carmelo Marks, Melenia Tripp, Aluntrae Jackson, Elijah Whidby, and Mariah Smith.
Youth Jason Jones narrated the presentation and opened the program by stating that “MLK Day is not a black holiday but a peoples holiday,” a message that echoes that of Dr. King’s push for equality among all.
Musical renditions included Ella Heath singing “Black Butterfly” recorded by artist Deniece Williams and “A Change Is Gonna Come” written and performed by Sam Cooke; Glenasia Stewart singing Oscar-winning score “Glory” written and performed by John Legend and Common for the movie “Selma,” and youth Joshua Manning singing “Jesus is Love” by The Commodores. Vocalists were assisted by musical director Donald Anderson and drummer Jemel Whitlock.
Scenes depicted on stage included a protest by MLK supporters as well as a white’s-only restaurant that turned away would-be patrons of color. Though brief, the program by the youth was inspiring in the notion that history would not be lost by them in an effort to continue progress. Youth director Melissa Strozier, choir director Vanessa Whidby, and youth choir assistant Ms. Heath aided the youth in organizing the program.
The day’s events closed with Rev. Jimmy Horton of Springfield thanking those that had chosen to participate in the local Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events despite the cold weather. He implored participants to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy everyday not just on the holiday especially within the community.
Rev. Horton said he noticed paper and cans strewn on both sides of the street as the march traveled down MLK Drive and he didn’t like that and was sure that Dr. King wouldn’t like it either. Rev. Horton suggested setting a Saturday clean up day in January for willing participants to pick up trash around the city in an effort to be good stewards.
