Celebrating his dream: Annual breakfast honors Dr. King
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on January 16, 2006 1:48 PM
Singing, dancing, prayer -- all in honor of a champion of the civil rights movement.
More than 400 county residents arrived at H.V. Brown Hall this morning to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as the city hosted its 18th annual celebration of his birth.
As the audience filed into the auditorium and took their seats, King's voice echoed from speakers positioned around the room -- a recording of a speech many said they will never forget.
Goldsboro's Community Affairs Director Laterrie Ward said the event is anticipated by residents across Wayne County every year.
"It's just an excellent event," she said. "We are trying to bring people together, and it's a time everyone in the county can look forward to."
Mrs. Ward said the event, which included breakfast, entertainment and an opportunity for dialogue between neighbors, reflects the true mission and impact of Dr. King.
"I think the true legacy of Dr. King is for all members of a community to come together on one accord," she said. "It's a time to recognize each other's differences and understand them. And to move forward."
After breakfast, a series of performances took center stage, including the Tau Drummers and Nia Dancers from New Bern and singing from Nicolas Cole and Deonte Anderson of Mount Zion Christian Academy and Demarcus Kelly and Robert Boyette from Carver Elementary School.
Letishia Jackson said she was proud to be in Goldsboro for the annual celebration of Dr. King. As a member of the group from New Bern, Mrs. Jackson said the arts are a means by which the color barrier is broken down.
"There is no color in dance or theater," she said. "Only beauty."
Mrs. Jackson said when she isn't performing, she works with at-risk children in afterschool programs that might not exist it if weren't for the civil rights movement.
"Dr. Martin Luther King preached or future," she said. "He died preaching our future. I think that children right now are living his dream."
Mrs. Jackson added her performance would be dedicated to King's message of serving and achieving to the best of human ability.
"Even if his children were in the audience, we wouldn't do anything different but do our best," she said. "That was his dream."