Can Anne Arundel achieve MLK’s dream?
On Friday, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee will host its 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Program. It is the largest celebration of the birthday of King held Anne Arundel County.
This year’s celebration, because of the coronavirus will be broadcast over the City of Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County’s public access channels.
Kudos to Mitchelle Stephenson, Roz Hamlet, Phyllis Currie Spencer, Marc Apter, Anthony Smoot, attorney Alan Hyatt, Dr. Larry Blum and Antonio Downing for helping to make this possible.
Each year, we honor the memory of King byhonoringmenandwomen, whohavekept his dream alive through their words, deeds and actions.
This year, we will be honoring 14 individuals including Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones, County Executive Steuart Pittman, former councilman Daryl Jones, Dee Goodwyn, Vincent Leggett, Midshipman 1st Class Madeline Cooke and London Eades to name just a few of the honorees.
This year’s celebration takes on a special meaning. It is being held on the eve of a new president and vice- president being sworn into office.
King, who would have been 92 this month, and would certainly applaud the accomplishments that the nation has made.
Hewould acknowledge the election of the first African- American President Barack Obama and the upcoming inauguration of the first woman and African- American vice- president, U. S. Senator KamalaHarris.
However, he would also be the first to acknowledge that the struggle for racial equality continues. He would condemn those who would continue to try and divide the American people along racial and ideological lines.
He would demand that elected officials and members of the community step up to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Disparities in healthcare, criminal justice, housing, education and economic justice would be on his social justice agenda.
Therefore, immediately following the 6 p. m. broadcast, there will be a live discussion with elected officials, religious and civil rights leaders based on this question: “How can we implement the dream of Dr. King in Anne Arundel County?”
The State of Maryland in 1974, was the secondstate in the nation tohonorKingwith a holiday in his name.
At the time every member of the Anne Arundel County delegation to the General Assembly with the exception of the late Del. Aris T. Allen, Sr., voted against making his birthday a state holiday. Today, this national holiday is celebrated by all.
On Friday, we invite you to join us in celebrating his birthday. You may get more information on the event by visiting the websitewww. mlkjrmd. org.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee in partnership with the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County government is building the Guardians of the 1st Amendment Memorial, which will be dedicated in memory of the journalists and staff who were slain at The Capital newspaper in 2018.
It is fitting that we honor King by honoring men and women who gave their lives for the most important amendment in our Constitution.
King saidmore than five decades ago: ” All we say to America is to be true to what you said on paper.” OnFriday, allwe are saying to our elected leaders is to be “true” to the oath you took and represent all of the people. Join us for a robust discussion. After all, if we don’t have civil dialogue, we will have tarnished the legacy of King, who was and remains our best hope of achieving the American dream by remembering those words in the Constitution,“We the People.”
A Luta Continua, which in Portuguese means that the struggle continues for justice, freedom and peace.