There is a movement afoot, oftentimes unseen as it moves from year to year, from generation to generation. Through the slow progression of time and the efforts of community activists both near and far, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Beloved Community" is appearing on the horizon of humankind as evidenced by the celebration of Dr. King's legacy during the past King Holiday.
At the King Coalition's 20th Annual Free Community Dinner on January 12, a "rainbow coalition" of approximately 75 people, young and old, liberal and conservative, able and disabled came together at Gordon Commons on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. It is a low-key time to network and enjoy the company of friends not seen for months gone by.
Women in Focus' I Have a Dream Ball, held January 13 at Monona Terrace, is always an elegant affair that honors Dr. King by raising funds for the Women in Focus scholarships that are awarded to graduating African American high school seniors. Over the years, the event outgrew the Edgewater Hotel so that now well over 400 attended the dinner-dance. Ashley Brown, a past scholarship recipient exhorted the audience to invest in today's youth. "Rev. Martin Luther King once said, 'Faithis taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase,'" Brown said. "Step out on faith for today's youth and watch the staircase build before you."
Early Sunday morning, January 14, over 700 people woke early to eat a soul breakfast prepared by Kipp's Home Cooking and honor successful African American and other students of color at the 23rd Annual Urban League Guild Youth Recognition Breakfast at Edgewood High School. After a recognition of the African American teachers who have retired from the Madison Metropolitan School District and Dr. Charles Taylor's keynote address on the role education has played for African American students, 137 area middle school and high school students were awarded Outstanding Young Person Awards and four Mann Scholars were recognized. New this year was the seven Urban League Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships and the nine MATC Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships that were awarded.
On Monday, the oldest official state King Holiday commemoration in the United States got under way at noon at the State Capitol. The 27th Annual State of Wisconsin Tribute & Ceremony Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. filled the capitol rotunda as Jonathan Overby emceed the perennially delightful and meaningful event. Roland S. Martin, executive editor of The Chicago Defender, talked about "The Road Less Traveled." The American Jewish Committee, Milwaukee Chapter, received the 2007 MLK State Heritage Award.
The Holiday ended with the 22nd Annual City-County Observance in the Overture Center's Capitol Theater. Hundreds of people turned out to see Michael Harrington McKinney (posthumously), Lea Zeldin, Edith Hilliard, and Jason Gonzales receive Dane County's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Award and Milton McPike, Irv and Robert Goodman, and Tosha Songolo receive the City of Madison's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. Jack Holliday gave a wonderful keynote address and as always, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir, under the direction of Leotha Stanley and Letrice Stanley, filled everyone with inspiration and the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. The Dream lives on! |
