Youths told to take MLK’s example
Crediting Benjamin Mays with mentoring a young Martin Luther King Jr. in his pursuit of promoting societal change through nonviolence, a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff vice chancellor encouraged junior high and high school students to never underestimate the power of a mentor – and also challenged adults to never underestimate the power of being one.
“It was Dr. King’s mentor who opened his eyes to the path and the platform that would not only change Dr. King’s life but the fabric of this country,” Carla Martin said, referring to the man who served as president of King’s alma mater, Morehouse College. “That person is capable of seeing in you what you can’t always see in yourself.”
Powerful mentorship was one of three “life lessons” Martin left with about 30 ninth through 12th graders from the Pine Bluff School District and Friendship Aspire Academy Southeast during an Original KingFest MLK Day Celebration kickoff Tuesday at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center. The students are ambassadors and student council representatives at their schools.
KingFest organizer the Rev. Jesse Turner said having the kickoff was important because January is National Mentoring Month. Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday observed the third Monday of every year since 1986.
“We are trying to highlight mentors, a need for mentors and kids who have been mentored,” Turner said.
Martin, who heads the Division of Finance and Administration at UAPB, also challenged the students to be exceptional
in all they do and to use their voices, the other two lessons.
“We live in a world full of average – average individuals, average work ethic. So I challenge you to take the time to invest in yourself to be the standout in the crowd. Dr. King attended college at the young age of 15. Four years later, in 1948, he graduated and then spent three years at Crozer Theological Seminary earning a bachelor of divinity. … He knew by investing in himself, it would open doors that would otherwise be closed to an average individual.”
Education is a piece Kendra Jackson, ELA content specialist at Friendship-Southeast, urges her students to value from Martin’s message.
“Dr. King was big on education and we are big on education at Friendship,” Jackson said. “The nonviolence, for students to be able to settle disputes with nonviolence, that is something very important along with education. Along with everything we have going on with the STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts and math], something that’s big as well, when students learn to think, if that empowers them, then they are able to settle disputes without violence. That is big.”
Two Friendship students played key roles in Tuesday’s event. Byron Harris led the Pledge of Allegiance and Ryin Oglesby delivered the pledge of nonviolence.
KINGFEST SCHEDULE
Original KingFest activities continue today as students pledge against violence across all Pine Bluff schools.
At 1 p.m. Thursday, the Pine Bluff Interested Citizens for Voter Registration Pen or Pencil Birthday Bash will be held at Friendship Aspire Academy Southeast, 1501 W. 73rd Ave. Judge Jackie Harris of the 11th District West Fourth Division will speak.
Saturday is designated as an Original KingFest Youth/ City of Pine Bluff MLK Day of Service. Cleanup projects will take place across the city, with locations to be announced.
The 40th Annual MLK Day Commemoration Service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 717 W. 32nd Ave. Dr. Robert Woodson of the Woodson Center in Washington, D.C., will be the guest speaker and Judge Alex Guynn of the 11th District West Circuit Court will emcee.
“At our Sunday night program, we’re going to have seven kids who have gone through [our Pen or Pencil program],” Turner said. “A number of them have gone through our Pen or Pencil program, and mentoring is, as Dr. Martin said, you never underestimate that, because I never knew I would see young men that I’ve mentored running for council or a young lady running as a state representative or someone sitting on the bench judging people right now, or those who have started businesses. You never know what you are looking at. I never knew what Willie Roaf would be. He’s now in the [Pro Football] Hall of Fame. I never knew Carlos James would be the head baseball coach at UAPB, but these are kids we all mentored, and it’s paying off.”
Pine Bluff commemorates MLK Day annually with the Original KingFest Celebration Marade – a parade honoring Martin Luther King – downtown. This year’s event, the 40th annual, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, despite the threat of freezing weather. Plans for inclement weather have not yet been finalized, according to Turner.
Third-grader Jarius Higgins of Gandy Elementary in the White Hall School District is scheduled to speak at the end of the Marade.
That will be followed by the fifth annual MLK/ Lorenzo Smith Battle of the Bands.