Culver City hosted its eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration entitled, “Realizing the Dream, Living the Legacy,” on Jan. 19, at the Culver City Senior Center.
Keynote speaker Reverend James M. Lawson, a close friend and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told a rapt audience about his recollections of the struggle for equality, his personal relationship with Dr. King and the last time he saw the civil rights leader, just an hour before his assassination.
Lawson also commented on present day issues and outlined what he saw as a path toward fully realizing Dr. King’s dream.
The critically acclaimed documentary “MLK: The Assassination Tapes,” was screened at the event and featured a young Reverend Lawson marching with Dr. King in April 1968.
In addition to Reverend Lawson’s keynote address, Culver City’s King Day celebration included a panel discussion with five Freedom Riders, students from all over the country who in the 1960s, rode buses throughout the South challenging the segregation laws.
Many of the Freedom Riders were beaten and jailed for their opposition. During the discussion, audience members stood in line to ask the panel questions and recalled their own experiences.
Musical entertainment included The West Los Angeles College Jazz Ensemble performing a string of lively jazz classics, the Agape Youth Choir singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the recording artist Chikk, who received an ovation for her rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
In tribute to the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Actor Gerald Rivers delivered a stirring recitation of Dr. King’s “I have a Dream,” speech.
Other notable speakers included Culver City Mayor Andrew Weissman, West Los Angeles College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh and UCLA African-American Studies professor Dr. Darnell Hunt, who spoke on the historical impact of Dr. King. “Realizing the Dream, Living the Legacy” fifth grade essay winners from El Rincon Elementary School, Omar Attaalla, Anaiya Mitchell and McKayla Williams read their winning essays. A fourth essay winner, Laila Remy, was not available to read her essay.
The event was hosted by actor Roger Guenveur Smith and talk show personality Karen Brundidge.
“This has to be one of the best annual community events in Culver City,” said Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Committee Chair Rupert Francisco.
“All the committee members worked very hard to assemble a great program this year. We’re ecstatic that out of all the other options available, so many people came out to this event to remember and commemorate Dr. King’s legacy.”