MOUNT VERNON — For the fifth year, Knox Countians celebrated the birthday and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a celebration breakfast Monday hosted by the Dr. King Legacy Committee. This year’s theme was “His Vision, Our Mission.” The event was held at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and was sponsored by MVNU, Kenyon College, Ariel Corp., Weyerhaeuser, Embarq, First-Knox National Bank and other organizations and corporations.
“Every year the celebration gets bigger,” said Terri Hubbard, chairwoman of the legacy committee.
This year marks 40 years since King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968. Those attending the breakfast viewed a timeline with photographs of the events of the civil rights movement, and a memorial display of photos of those — black and white — who lost their lives in the struggle for civil rights for all.
The speakers lightened the mood by reminding the audience that much has changed for the better in the United States in 40 years.
“America has come a long way in less than half a century,” Dr. Glenn McNair, associate professor of history at Kenyon, told the crowd, which included many young people. He reminded them how many African-Americans work in politics, run companies and attend college, and that this year, an African-American is even running for president.
Tamara Parson quoted Coretta Scott King: “This is not a black holiday; this is a people’s holiday.”
State Rep. Thom Collier noted that King lived 39 years, and now his legacy has outlived him.
“This is how a legacy lives on, longer than your life,” said Collier, “when you’re a man or woman of vision.”
Jim Singletary, director of multicultural affairs and student recruitment at MVNU, noted that the university opened in 1968, a ray of hope in, he said, “The same year as America was burning.”
Mansfield resident Mary Alice Williams sang “If I Can Help Somebody.”
The keynote speaker, the Rev. James Earl Cosby of Mansfield, founder of the Cosby Educational Heritage Center, called for a return to traditional values, such as respect for elders and others, setting good examples for young people, courtesy, character, encouragement of others, spiritual conscience, education and financial responsibility.
Encouraging students to get a good education, he said, “What Dr. King was telling us was to be the best that you can be. It doesn’t make sense to trade one plantation in for another.”
Urging good financial sense, he likened credit cards to slavery and injustice.
“Maybe you didn’t understand share-cropping, but when you look at 24 percent interest and your great-grandchild having to pay that off, then you’ll begin to understand share-cropping. The road to freedom,” he said, “is paved with prayers, blood, sweat and tears.”
“Every so often, God sends a prophet,” said the Rev. Bob Hendricks. “Martin Luther King Jr. was such a prophet. We’ve come a long way, but there’s more to do.”
Lee Belo of Mount Vernon said she attended the breakfast to pay tribute to King.
“When they killed him, they killed one of the world’s greatest heroes,” she said. “He would have done so much for this world, for this country. That was a great injustice. It shouldn’t have happened. There’s no need for prejudice and hatred in this world.”
Recipients of Ariel Spirit of the Vision awards were Peg Tazwell, executive director of Knox County Head Start; Lois Carter, executive director of Care Net Pregnancy Services; and Nancy Freshwater, center director at Care Net Pregnancy Services.
College students winning Martin Luther King Book Scholarships were David Peregrina, Jackelyn Burgos, Jomayra Rodriquez and Nicholas Felizzola of MVNU; and Blossom Barrett and Kimberly Black of Kenyon.
High school essay contest winners, all from Mount Vernon High School, were Clare Jaymes, first place; Bez Saciri, second place; and Leah McCutcheon, third place.
Middle school essay contest winners, all from East Knox Elementary, were Meghan Comstock, first place; Morgan Groom, second place; and Morgan McCarthy, third place.
The Martin Luther King Art Award went to Kaitlyn Rine, East Knox Elementary.
