“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
– The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On April 4, all eyes will turn to Memphis, Tennessee to remember the tragic event that occurred 50 years ago and the legacy left by our nation’s greatest peacemaker.
Alongside the National Civil Rights Museum and NAACP chapters across the U.S., Springfield NAACP Cheryl Clay, president) is facilitating a series of local events in 2018 to both commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s untimely passing, and determine where we go from here.
The yearlong commemorations – made possible through partnerships with Drury University, Faith Voices of Southwest Missouri, Great Southern Bank, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Penmac Staffing Services Incorporated, Peoples Meet and Greet, the Southwest Missouri chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Springfield Art Museum, and the Springfield-Greene County Library District – kicked off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan. 15 with the annual march in downtown Springfield.
A program following the march at the Gillioz Theatre featured performances by the Evangel University Gospel Choir singing Dr. King’s favorite hymn, “Take My Hand Precious Lord,” and an original spoken word piece by Toni Robinson. The event also included a presentation illuminating Dr. King’s entry into the civil rights movement, narrated by Pastor T. J. Appleby, and a soul-stirring rendition of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech orated by Missouri State University’s Dr. Richard Todd Payne.
Upcoming events (all free and open to the public)
The Golden Gathering
6 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, Springfield Art Museum
The Golden Gathering will bring together social justice leaders, activists, practitioners and community members for an intimate look at the civil rights movement from past foundations to current mobility and grassroots organizing; explore how past activism laid the groundwork for current action; and how new civil rights movements are working through justice and peace to achieve positive social change. The Golden Gathering will include moderated discourse and storytelling; performance arts of original spoken word, music, plays, and liturgical dance; and, a visual art exhibit of creative pieces from community artists of all ages.
Let Freedom Ring Community Bell-ringing
6:01 p.m., Wednesday, April 4
To commemorate the five decades since Dr. King’s passing, the community is invited to ring bells five times with one second between each at Dr. King’s time of death, 6:01 p.m
Youth Empowerment Day
Youth Empowerment Day will be held the summer, date TBA. Youth and adolescents will demonstrate leadership in the trilogy of service, education, and celebrations. Foremost, in honor of Dr. King, youth leaders will plant pecan trees (pecan pie was one of Dr. King’s favorite foods) in a community park; community-based teams will engage youth in education activities such as a timeline of Dr. King’s endeavors, debates about civil and social issues, conflict resolution; and the Desserts Fit for a King Bakeoff of all things pecan.
Been to the Mountaintop Interfaith Service
Fall, date TBA. Seven keynote speakers will frame the service through their reflections and current day interpretations of Dr. King’s last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” that was delivered on April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. The cross-cultural interactions and interfaith messages are designed to increase communication and cooperation in unified efforts to end biases that marginalize individuals in our community to secondary positions. The interfaith service will be followed by a fellowship dinner featuring Dr. King’s favorite foods.
“Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?,” Dr. King’s fourth and final book, published in 1967, provided a framework for the local MLK 50 Commemorations, which focus on the issues that Dr. King was most concerned about during the last years of his life: poverty, fair wages, affordable and safe housing, quality education and justice and peace as the method to achieve positive social change. Fifty years later it is essential to note Dr. King’s identified issues are equally pressing. In his foretelling words, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
After MLK 50: Where do we go from here?
By vigorously responding to Dr. King’s prophetic question with unified strength and proactive practices, we will continue to raise our voices against injustices like institutional racism and unfair wages. We will continue to speak truth to power to eradicate abject poverty and eliminate education disparities. We will continue to create welcoming, inclusive environments until we reach the pinnacle of society by manifesting freedom, equity and justice for all.
We can continue to make progress on pressing issues like poverty, the need for safe and affordable housing and quality education through ongoing efforts and awareness in our respective organizations and by getting involved with groups like the Be a Jewel Campaign (a corporate fundraising opportunity designed to assist the underserved in the Ozarks, with an emphasis on grandparents raising their grandchildren); Safe to Sleep (an emergency overnight women’s shelter that provides women of all ages a safe and compassionate place to sleep); Habitat for Humanity of Springfield (works with families to help them realize the dream of home ownership); and Ujima, a literacy program for elementary-aged children created by MSU communication science and disorders professor Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate.
“Ujima” is a Swahili word that means collective work and responsibility. The program is supported by SPS, MSU, Springfield NAACP, Springfield-Greene County Library District, Parents as Teachers and the Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center, among others.
The formation of community book clubs is encouraged to increase reading opportunities, interest and advancement among people of all ages. Notable aspects to enrich reading experiences include cultural considerations (e.g., main characters from diverse populations featured in meaningful stories with high factors of relatability for diverse populations) as well as social, emotional and moral aspects for overall healthy development (e.g., sound self-worth, emotional well-being, a strong moral compass).
An interactive, thought-provoking community film series is in the works to showcase informative documentaries, interactive short films and educational movies that are developmentally appropriate for respective audiences of youth, adolescents, and adults. The film series is designed to increase comprehension about civil and social issues; provide insight into proactive, nonviolent resistance to discrimination and exclusionary practices; heighten awareness about the importance of individuals across all cultural and ethnic groups being actively engaged in the process for equity and inclusion; profile the positive difference one person can make in ameliorating civil and social issues; and, engage filmgoers in interactive discussions and experiential activities that can ignite action steps based on lessons learned.
With great resolve, we respond with proactive practices designed to manifest freedom, equity and justice for all.
Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson is the chair of the local MLK 50 Commemorations Committee, an executive board member of the Springfield NAACP, a diversity consultant, founder and national director of Boys Booked on Barbershops and Girls Booked on Beautyshops, a higher education policy analyst and a childhood education and family studies professor at Missouri State University. She can be reached at sbrinson@missouristate.edu.