MLK HONORING
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
COM M E MOR ATIVE SPE CIAL SE C TI ON Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968
50 ye a r s later
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MLK site marks milestone as Georgia’s first National Historic Park
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he Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is celebrating a milestone as Georgia’s first National Historical Park. The announcement comes as the nation observes this year’s MLK National Holiday and the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s death. The historic site will be the first national park honoring an African American. President Trump signed the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Act into law on Jan. 8, a week before the King holiday. The president was on his way to visit Atlanta to attend the national college championship football game when he signed the new law as King’s niece, Alveda King, witnessed the signing aboard Air Force One, the White House said. Congressman John Lewis, who sponsored the legislation, praised the new law. The bill took Congress four years to pass. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on Jan. 4, 2017, and the U.S. Senate adopted the legislation on Dec. 27, 2017. “I am so proud that we were able to work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to establish Georgia’s first National Historical Park in Dr. King’s name and legacy before what would be his 89th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his tragic assassination,” said Lewis, who sponsored the bill and who represents Georgia’s Fifth District, which includes the park. “I hope that this moment will serve as a reminder of the constant work to realize Dr. King’s dream of building the Beloved Community–a community at peace with itself and our neighbors.” King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. He was 39 years old. This year also marks the 50-year anniversary that Coretta Scott King founded the King Center to carry on his legacy. Judy Forte, superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, said
By Mackenzie N. Morgan
Photo by Mackenzie N. Morgan/ OCGNews
the park’s new designation elevates its status. Now, as a national park attracting some 700,000 documented visitors annually, it can attract even more visitors to the Sweet Auburn District. “I am so happy that we finally got the new designation. It means a lot and will enable us to tell the complete story and have the historic fabric and the resources to do that,” said Superintendent Forte who said the auspicious news comes on the eve of us commemorating the fiftieth-year anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination,” said Superintendent Forte. “Our theme this year is ‘MLK 50 Forward: Together we win with love for humanity.’... We are going to use this as a moment to talk about the future and how we’re going to take his life and legacy and advance it forward. I
think moving from a historic site to a national historical park falls right in place with that 50 forward.” Forte said that while the new designation does not garner extra funding, the park’s resources will expand to include the Prince Hall Masonic Building on Auburn Avenue which operated as the first headquarters for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference where King served as SCLC’s founding president. The transition from historic site to historical park will also include new interstate signage along with park entryways, buildings, brochures and all media reflecting the park’s name change. Forte said that the historical park will roll out the park’s new name at a forthcoming community event.
Founded in April, 1995
On Common Ground News Celebrates the
Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We thank the dreamer for paving the way for generations of storytellers.
Glenn and Valerie Morgan Publishers
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JANUARY 13, 2018 • PAGE 3
Celebrating the King Holiday ATLANTA
DEKALB
Interactive Book Event, Jan. 14 The King Center, Yolanda D. King Theatre For The Performing Arts, 449 Auburn Ave. N.E., will present a free book event for children from 3 to 5 p.m. The day’s activities will include book readings, interactive activities, and conclude with a book signing. The event is targeted especially toward children ages 8 to 10. A book drive for new and used books will be held during the “We’ve Got Next: Turning Readers into Leaders” event. Materials for all languages will be accepted to help those impacted by hurricanes and homelessness. Everyone is asked bring at least one book for the book drive. The event will be hosted by Yolanda Renée King, the only grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and her cousin, Maryn Rippy, the great-granddaughter of A.D., and special guests including Martin Luther King, III, Arndrea King, Dr. Angela Farris Watkins, Dr. Andrea Lewis, Xernona Clayton, Donald Bermudez and DJ Willy Wow. For more information, call Juanita Robinson at 404-526-8900 or email: robinson@thekingcenter.org.
Interfaith Candlelight Vigil, Jan. 14 The MLK Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College presents the annual communitywide candlelight vigil from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Rev. Terry Walker at 470-6390325 or terry.walker@morehouse. edu.
King Holiday March and Rally, Jan. 15 The 2 p.m. march will be held on Auburn Avenue from Peachtree Street to Jackson Street. The rally will held on Auburn Avenue following the march. Leaders will speak on several topics: education, technology, medical, investment, transportation, housing, environmental justice, job creation, conflict resolution, interfaith, cultural exchange, peace, justice, and voter registration. The event is free and open to the public.
Michelle Obama Trail Unveiling, Jan. 13 The DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs and Commissioner Larry Johnson invite the community to the Unveiling and Naming Ceremony for the Michelle Obama Trail. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the trailhead beginning at Georgia State University (Perimeter College), 2946 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur. Parking is available at the college.
MLK Day Parade, Jan. 15 The DeKalb NAACP DeKalb will host its 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade on Monday, Jan. 15. The parade will start at noon at Green Pastures Ministries, 5455 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, and end at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School. Parade participants will begin lining up at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Dreamer.” The parade’s grand marshal is Apostle Collette Gunby of Green Pastures Ministries.
GWINNETT
MLK Day Parade, Jan. 15 The MLK Day Parade and celebration program will be held 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the parade begins at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration building and ends at Moore Middle School, where performances, vendors, and artwork will be on display. Keynote speakers include alumni of the historic Hooper Renwick School in Lawrenceville. The Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center is located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. Moore Middle School is located at 1221 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville.
MLK Day of Service Workday Celebration, Jan. 15 Join volunteers for National Day of Service from 9 a.m. to noon for a cleanup at Rock Springs Park. Families, service organizations, and scout groups are welcome. For more information, call Tania Ballou at 678.277.0903 or email tania. ballou@gwinnettcounty.com. Rock Springs Park is located at 550 Rock Springs Road, Lawrenceville.
ROCKDALE
Annual Breakfast, Jan. 15 The Rockdale NAACP and Conyers Rockdale Chamber of Commerce will host the 15th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Longhorn steakhouse, 1294 Iris Drive, Conyers. The keynote speaker will
be State Rep. Vernon Jones. Every year, the event draws a crowd. Plan to get in line early. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 children 3 and under. No advance ticket sales. Pay at the door. The breakfast benefits homeless initiatives in Rockdale.
MLK Day Parade, Jan. 15 Rockdale County will host its first ever parade in Olde Town honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade participants will line up beginning at 10 a.m. at Rockdale High School. There is no fee to participate. The parade kicks off at noon and travels down Main Street in the city of Conyers. The Think Tank organization, under founder Josie Dean, is organizing the historic event. A celebration and awards program will follow at the Rockdale Auditorium, 903 N. Main St. Several community leaders will be honored. In 2016, Dean made history with the first MLK parade in Rockdale. However, that one was held outside the county’s annex at 1400 Parker Road.
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Remembering the Dreamer Local clergy reflect on Dr. King’s Assassination
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r. Martin Luther King, Jr. was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee, when he was fatally shot on April 4, 1968. The pastor and civil rights leader was rushed to St. Joseph’s hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. This year marks the 50th anniversary of King’s assasination, and for many, that moment in time remains unforgettable. Pastor James C. Ward, senior pastor at Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, vividly remembers when he first heard the news of Dr. King’s assassination.
By Deanna Cauthen
years old when Dr. King was killed. She and her late husband, Ronald Gunby, who was then her boyfriend both walked in the three-mile procession from Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College.
Dr. Collette Gunby
Pastor James C. Ward “I was a Morehouse College student at the time and I was working as a waiter at the Regency Hyatt House. When we got the news, everybody was extremely sad and we all went home,” said Pastor Ward. “It was a devastating time. Folks had lost all hope.” Although Ward believes that there is still more work to be done, in terms of human rights, he said America is a far better place because of Dr. King’s leadership and others who were at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. “I’ve seen so much change and it’s amazing. I have a granddaughter who has been recruited by every Ivy League school in the country and I have nieces and nephews who have graduated from places like Georgia Tech. We’re doing things that I never thought we would do. Looking back has made me see how far we’ve come and I tell my young people to take advantage of every opportunity,” said Ward, who leads a church that includes a line of great leaders including the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams, maternal grandfather of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Collette Gunby, senior pastor at Green Pastures Christian Ministries in Decatur, was just 18
“I remember that it was a long walk, but everybody felt blessed and proud to be able to participate. There were the Black Panthers and commoners like us. There were adults and children. From that moment on, we realized that we had something to do. It was our first opportunity to be involved. I felt like it catapulted the youth into action. It was the most exciting time of my life to be able to march down that street,” said Dr. Gunby. Dr. Gunby talked about how desegregation and Dr. King’s work for equity and racial justice impacted her financially and the economics of African-Americans, in general. “[Because of desegregation], one of my first jobs was to work as a telephone operator at Southern Bell. I was working next to white people, was able to use the same bathrooms, and could get approved for credit. I went on to work at Equifax and was making $300 a week. It was phenomenal. It was a huge change,” said Dr. Gunby. “Nobody [I knew] had a professional job. We used to only be maids and the clean-up crew. There were black teachers, but black teachers could only teach black students. [Desegregation] allowed us to get jobs at places that were forbidden. It opened up our world,” shared Dr. Gunby. Dr. Gunby will serve as grand marshal for the DeKalb NAACP’s 16th Annual Dr. Martin King, Jr. Parade, which kicks off from her church at noon. Pastor Eric Lee, Sr., the senior pastor at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, was not yet born when Dr. King was assassinated, but he said that the civil rights leader made a powerful impression on his life.
remember our history. We’ve been encouraged to forget. Jewish people can remember their history, but African-Americans are encouraged to be silent”, said Pastor Lee. Dr. Billie Cox, who is pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers, was just a child when Dr. King was assassinated, but says she remembers how his death affected her community.
Pastor Eric Lee, Sr. “I attended Morehouse College from 1989-1993. As a student, you can’t help but be impacted by the sacrifices of Dr. King. He had such a powerful imprint on human rights and justice”, said Pastor Lee. “I grew up in his shadow and he had a profound effect on my ministry. Dr. King believed that we’re not just here to make as much money that we want to make, and to get temporal things. We want to make an impact. He called it the ‘Beloved Community,’” continued Pastor Lee. Pastor Lee said he believes that the African-American community has forgotten some of the key ideals of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. “There’s been a substitution of self-promotion in place of community development. Even among civil rights leaders, there’s this competition and ambition to be the best. We’ve forgotten why Dr. King did what he did. We don’t think like a people. We think in terms of individualism. There’s an imbalance,” said Pastor Lee. “We must reclaim our history and we can’t be afraid to tell these stories. We need to remember what God has done for us in the past. We haven’t been encouraged to
Dr. Billie Cox “I remember the cries of the adults in my community, the looks of pain and mental anguish on their faces,” said Dr. Cox. She went on to express deep gratitude for the sacrifices that Dr. King and others in the Civil Rights Movement made. “I am grateful that his journey paved the way for many of the opportunities that I have benefited from. I worked in the federal government because Dr. King had a dream of a “ beloved community” that was inclusive and open to all. Because of his dream, doors opened that allowed me to earn my Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral degrees,” Dr. Cox said. “His journey helps me to stay grounded and committed in my efforts to service the whole community of God. His dream still lives.”
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JANUARY 13, 2018 • PAGE 5
Ruth Wilson
Rockdale County Clerk of Courts
Tisa Smart-Washington
Rockdale County Tax Commissioner
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Visiting MLK LANDMARKS Walking in the footsteps of Dr. King
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rom Sweet Auburn to Stone Mountain, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s footsteps to freedom can be found in a number of noteworthy landmarks in the Atlanta area, his hometown. On Common Ground News compiled some of the most significant sites in King’s journey with information capsules about the landmarks:
By Mackenzien N. Morgan
The Sweet Auburn Curb Market is situated in the heart of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood where King grew up. Established in 1924 as a segregated market, the landmark now welcomes a diverse community of business people, creatives and students.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park (450 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta) is the final resting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The park includes several blocks of historic buildings and structures including the Birth Home of Dr. King and the original Ebenezer Baptist Church where MLK, his father and maternal grandfather preached. A few doors down are the historic Fire Station No. 6, a visitor’s center and museum, and several memorial structures. The park’s newest property includes the Prince Hall Masonic Building where King served as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Paschal’s Restaurant was opened in 1947 by brothers James and Robert Paschal at 831 West Hunter Street in Atlanta. The historic restaurant on Atlanta’s Westside was a popular venue used by King and other civil rights leaders such as John Lewis (now a Congressman) and activist Jesse Jackson as home base for the movement. Paschal’s became the place for leaders of the Civil Rights Movement to refuel, connect and strategize. Today, Paschal’s has a new location in Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill community at 180 Northside Drive, S.W., Atlanta. The restaurant sremains a mainstay for the city’s movers and shakers.
Nearby is the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change (449 Auburn Ave. NE). The King Center contains artifacts and exhibits on Dr. King and other prominent social activists.
MLK’s alma mater, Morehouse College, is now home to a 13,000-item collection of Dr. King’s books, letters, annotations and personal belongings. MLK’s last home was 234 Sunset Ave. on the Westside of Atlanta. King moved into the modest home with his family in 1965 and lived there until his murder in 1968. The home remains untouched and is still owned by the family. Just a few blocks north of Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home, the remains of the David T. Howard School where King attended grades 3 through 6 can be found.
Founded in 1886, South-View Cemetery was the original burial site for MLK and is the final resting place for more than 80,000 African- Americans including King’s parents.
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JANUARY 13, 2018 • PAGE 7
The phrase “Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia” from Dr. King’s infamous “I Have A Dream” speech refers to the massive natural wonder. The largest bas relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate Memorial Carving, which depicts three Confederate Civil War leaders, is carved into Stone Mountain. The second founding of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan was established at the site in 1915. An 8-foot-bronze statue pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Georgia Capitol. The statue, which was unveiled on Aug. 28, 2017, stands on the northeast corner of the Capitol’s grounds. Atlanta artist Martin Dawe was commissioned in June 2016 to create the statue when the original sculptor, Andy Davis, died after his motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. NW, Atlanta, uses technology and interactive exhibits to inspire and educate visitors about the civil rights movement. The museum is home to a special Martin Luther King, Jr. gallery, which features original King artifacts, papers and hand-written notes.
SHERRY BOSTON
DEKALB COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
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DeKalb County’s King Tribute Celebration to feature Judge Penny Reynolds, distinguished panel
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udge Penny Brown Reynolds will be the special guest speaker at DeKalb County government’s Martin Luther King, Jr. 34th Annual celebration, which will be held on Jan. 12, 11:30 a.m., at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, in Decatur. Reynolds, founder and executive producer of the “Judge Penny’s SisterTalk: A Women’s Empowerment Conference,” will provide the blueprint for the development of the “Beloved Community” in DeKalb County. Reynolds is a former prosecutor, state assistant attorney general, first African-American chief of staff and legal counsel to Georgia’s lieutenant governor, and first African-American executive counsel for a Georgia governor. “Dr. King’s revolutionary message that envisioned a Beloved Community based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of all human beings is the cornerstone of our 2018 MLK celebration,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “This event will recognize and celebrate DeKalb’s diverse populations, cultures and unique perspectives.” WSB-TV anchor and reporter Sophia Choi will moderate a distinguished panel of community leaders who will discuss diversity and cooperation at the celebration. The program, “Together We Win: A Conversation on Cultural Diversity in DeKalb,” will feature: • Samia Abdulle, a community organizer and dialogue facilitator. Her work has focused on building and strengthening relationships with diverse communities throughout DeKalb County including the city of Clarkston, where more than 100 languages are spoken and 50 percent of the residents are foreign-born. She currently serves as the North American coordinator for Numbi Arts and sits on the DeKalb County School District Advisory Council and the boards for Children’s Interfaith Movement and Joe Beasley Foundation. • Victoria Chacón, the publisher of La Visión Newspaper, one of the largest print community publications owned and managed by a Latino in Georgia. Published for nearly 20 years, La Visión Newspaper is distributed on Fridays at 1,500 distribution points, and the print version reaches more than 35,000 readers every week. • Charlene Fang, a founding member of the Taiwanese American Women’s Club and the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce. A native of Taiwan, Fang immigrated to the United States in 1990. She is the vice president of the North Decatur Lions Club and currently serves on the boards of the Interfaith Outreach Home, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Citizens Academy and the DeKalb Board of Assessors. • Ahmed Hassan, became the first former refugee and new immigrant to take elective office in the city of Clarkston. During his term, more than 35 new ordinances and 74 new resolutions have been passed including the institution of fair hiring practices, setting the minimum wage at $15 an hour and the adoption of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement non-detainer policy. The program also will pay tribute to Robert and Barbara Blazer, owners of Your DeKalb Farmer’s Market. The couple will be honored with the inaugural Nathaniel Mosby Humanitarian Award for embracing DeKalb County’s unique cultural differences. The Blazers have grown the farmer’s market into a global icon. The award the couple will receive is named for the second African American to the DeKalb County Commission. The late “Nate” Mosby was also chairman of the DeKalb Community Relations Commission, and served as the DeKalb community representative on the Atlanta Regional Commission. Mosby was employed as one of the first African-American managers of the Federal Aviation Administration.
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JANUARY 13, 2018 • PAGE 9
WE HONOR DR. KING
“
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualisitic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
“
- DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Commissioner Gregory Adams Sr. Dekalb Super district 7
Celebrating a Trailblazer “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
George Levett
Rockdale County Coroner
Honorable Phinia Aten Rockdale Chief Magistrate Judge Rockdale’s First Black Female Judge
“Everyone can be great Because anyone can serve.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
kenley’s catering and restaurant 75 piedmont ave, atlanta ga • 404-217-2455
I encourage my constituents to participate where they can to help DeKalb County be all it can be. Please contact my office to learn more about opportunities to serve DeKalb County.
Commissioner Steve Bradshaw Humble beginnings carried him on a global journey. Thank you for creating a table where we all have a seat. I am the Dream...
Sheriff Eric J. Levett
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners District 4 Phone: 404-371-4749 email:srbradshaw@dekalbcountyga.gov
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Rockdale is ready for historic MLK celebration
Josie Dean is bursting with excitement over Rockdale County’s tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A parade is planned, followed by a program at the Rockdale Auditorium, where several community leaders will be honored. But it’s not just a parade. This one is going down Main Street in Olde Town Conyers. The event will mark the first time in Rockdale’s 148-year history that a King parade has been held on Main Street, said Dean, who worked with county leaders and the city of Conyers to coordinate the historic celebration. “We’ve gotten the blessings of the Rockdale Board of Commissioners
and the city of Conyers. We are excited that the day has finally come,” said Dean, executive director of the Rockdale Think Tank, a nonpartisan group that meets monthly to discuss issues relevant to the community. Dean said the parade line-up begins at 10 a.m. at Rockdale High School and kicks off at noon. Congressman Hank Johnson, former Conyers Mayor Randy Mills and newly-installed Mayor Vince Evans will serve as grand marshals. Dean said she’s received a great deal of support from businesses and others who wanted to help make the celebration a success.
“God has been good. We have people who have helped us to get the floats for the parade and put the program together,” said Dean. “We want the community to come out in great numbers.” The parade will have the same route as the Rockdale County Christmas Parade, from Rockdale High School through Ole Town Conyers, ending at the courthouse with a full program in the Rockdale Auditorium. Dean made history in 2017 when she organized the MLK parade in Rockdale. That event was held outside the county’s annex at 1400 Parker Road.
Josie Dean
MLK Annual Ecumenical Commemorative Service, Jan. 15 The Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Ecumenical Commemorative Service, the spiritual hallmark of the King Holiday Observance, will be held 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Horizon Sanctuary, 101 Jackson St., Atlanta. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and CEO of The King Center. The program includes international greetings brought by Pastor David Yonggi Cho,Yoido Full Gospel Church - Assemblies of God, South Korea;and Dr. Deborah A. Bartlett, journalist and author (Nassau, Bahamas). Greetings also will be brought by Casey Cagle Lieutenant Governor, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Tributes: Bree Newsome, film maker, activist and musician; and Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the Rev. Robert Wright Lee, descendant of Robert E. Lee; and Ginger Howard, Georgia Republic National Committeewoman. There will be performances by Angelica Hale, “America’s Got Talent” contestant; Frederic Yonnet, producer and recording artist; Ayanna Gregory, songstress, educator and activist; Dottie Peoples, gospel vocalist, songwriter and producer; Dr. Earnest Pugh, singer and songwriter; and the Korean Christian Children’s Choir. The event is open to the public. Seating is limited.
Roll up your sleeves and serve The Global Love for Humanity: 50 Acts of Service or Kindness worldwide campaign will launch on the MLK National Holiday and conclude on April 4. Organizers say participants will commit to completing 50 acts of kindness or service during the campaign time period. These acts or service can be done individually or in conjunction with major civic organizations. Partners for the King Holiday Observance include: State Senator Emanuel Jones, who serves on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council; Judy Forte, superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic National Park Service; and Jamida Orange,MLK March Committee. For more information, contact Barbara Harrison at 404-526-8900 or email bharrison@thekingcenter.org
Hands on Atlanta prepares to serve on the MLK Holiday Hands on Atlanta will offer many opportunities for volunteers to make a difference through various service projects on the King Holiday. In partnership with the King Center, the organization will mobilize 1,500 volunteers at 25 projects throughout metro Atlanta to unite in service. There will be a diverse range of projects for participants including school and park beautification, meal kit packing and working in homeless shelters, putting together literacy and calming kits, planting trees, spending time with seniors, and more. To view all of the MLK volunteer opportunities: visit www. handsonatlanta.org/mlk.
Beloved Community Talks: Let’s Bridge the Racial Divide Across Urban, Suburban and Rural America
“I am convinced that men hate each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other, and they don’t communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.” —MLK address to Cornell College 1962
Pastor and author John Gray will moderate the “2018 Beloved Community Talks.” The panel discussion, “Let’s Bridge the Racial Divide Across Urban, Suburban and Rural America,” takes place on Jan. 15, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Yolanda D. King Theatre For The Performing Arts. In keeping with the Dr. King’s assertion that people are divided because we are disconnected, The King Center launched The Beloved Community Talks, a two-year campaign during the 2017 King Holiday. The talks were designed to bridge the racial divide in America by providing a platform for candid conversations to address the pains and unrest of racism rooted in a historical context. The national campaign brings together people from different ideological, cultural, socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds to heal the racial divide. Confirmed panelists include: Pastor Mike Hayes, Founder of Covenant Church; Dr. Raphael Warnock, Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church; Rev. Robert E. Lee, Descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; Daryl Davis, Musician, author, lecturer, actor and race relations expert; Scott Shepherd, former Grand Wizard, KKK; Bishop Harry Jackson, Pastor of Hope Christian Church. The panel discussion will take place before a live audience and will be streamed via Facebook.
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JANUARY 13, 2018 • PAGE 11
King’s most remembered pearls of wisdom
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imeless wisdom from the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. American Civil Rights leader and Atlanta’s native son, Martin Luther King Jr., was just 39 years old when he was gunned down on April 4, 1968 while standing on his balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee just one day after delivering the iconic ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech and King’s final address. Notorious for his captivating speeches, King’s speeches were bold, fiery and well thought. Known to be meticulous in his speechwriting process, King often scribbled several revisions of his speeches on notebooks, napkins and even newsprint. Here are some of King’s most remembered pearls of wisdom: 1: Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles. Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it. Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency ask the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.” 2: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” 3: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 4: “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” 5: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” 6: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.” 7: “I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” 8: “Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree
to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” 9: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
in moments of comfort and searching forget that the surest way convenience, but where he stands at to be happy is to seek happiness for times of challenge and controversy.” others.” 10: “Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are
11: “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
jason lary stonecrest Mayor
stonecrestga.gov