Excellence through service
City celebrates King’s birthday
Monday’s 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration focused on a commitment to excellence through service and “passing the torch” to the next generation.
The community came together at 10 a.m. to honor King’s legacy with a parade through downtown Hot Springs followed by devotionals, special music and dance, and speeches at Horner Hall.
The Uzuri Project Youth Institute graced the stage, and the students involved used their vocal and instrumental talents to perform their rendition of King’s “I have a dream” speech.
Musical offerings continued with the Lakeside High School Jazz Band performing composer Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus.” Director Rudy Villines introduced the piece, saying it was one of Mingus’ most politically charged songs, written to protest Arkansas Gov. Orval E. Faubus’ attempt to bar integration of Little Rock Central High School.
The Hot Springs High School T Steppers performed a celebration in dance to the song “Glory” from the 2014 film “Selma,” followed by a choral performance by members of Living Waters Church of God in Christ.
The event culminated in a speech by the Rev. Tyrone Burnell, associate minister of Angel Gabriel Church of God in Christ, who shared with the community that in order to pass the torch to the next generation, they must be committed to excellence through service.
“If we are going to be committed to service,
we still have a ways to go,” Burnell said. “Not only was Dr. King concerned, but Dr. King put his words into action.”
Burnell said King first came on the scene in the 1950s, seeing a need for action and spearheaded a movement, understanding he would face opposition.
“Whenever you go to do good, there is someone that wants to do bad,” Burnell said. “Resistance is a sign that shows you are headed in the right direction. … We must do like Dr. King, and we must not run from opposition.”
King also knew that to be committed to excellence through service, he had to be willing to make sacrifices for the greater good of all people, he said.
“In baseball, they have a thing they call a ‘sacrificial bunt,’” he said. “And in baseball, for the greater good of the team, the coach may ask whoever now and then to lay down a sacrificial bunt.
“A sacrificial bunt is not designed necessarily for you to get on base, the sacrificial bunt is designed to get everybody who was already on base to advance.”
Burnell said King was called an “outside agitator,” and that sometimes one has to be an agitator to bring about change. Burnell shared King’s words that in every washing machine there is an agitator, and when “the stain of injustice” is on society, there must be an agitator to lift it.
“He agitated until change took place, and that’s what we must do today,” he said.
Burnell concluded with a warning to “be careful when passing the torch” to the next generation.
“Be careful of what you are handing off to the next generation,” he said. “As Victor Hugo said ‘in darkness, crimes will be committed.’ If you fail to teach our children, you have caused the darkness. … Be careful of the handoff.”