Though it was a cold, foggy morning, a healthy crowd came to the Civic Ceremony at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis on Monday to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday before the annual march in his honor.
The program itself was a kind of march, as a long line of speakers took the stage to testify about Dr. King and his legacy.
The serious mood was explained, in part, by devastating international news that was on everyone’s mind.
As U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay said, “This day is especially significant as we continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as they rebuild their nation and rebuild their lives.”
The theme of this year’s event was “The Struggle Continues … Protecting and Embracing Our Youth Secures Our Future.”
The ceremony opened with the group Hi Prez, a son and father duo, singing Stevie Wonder’s rendition of “Happy Birthday” with a lot of crowd participation.
Following that was Willie Rivers IV, an 11-year-old boy, who recited Dr. King’s speech “I Have A Dream.”
Then Merdean Gales, president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, sang “We Shall Overcome” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” with the crowd joining in.
The Reverend Martha Crump, member of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, welcomed the crowd.
“Let’s celebrate the legacy of a well-known Dream,” Crump said.
State Rep. James T. Morris started the march of greetings and reflections from area elected officials.
“We are reminded that African Americans were not whole, but in part,” Morris said of the struggle for civil rights.
He challenged the crowd to work on the corner of where they live, their street or avenue, to make St. Louis a better place.
Congressman Clay wondered what Dr. King would think about the issues we face today.
“He would be discouraged by the hate and sickened by a popular culture that glorifies violence and vulgar images,” Clay said.
“We still have work to do to make Dr. King’s Dream a reality.”
St. Louis City Police Chief Daniel Isom informed the crowd about the police department’s programs to help youth. He said police officers are going into schools and teaching first graders about personal responsibility, respecting others, and pursuing the non-violent solutions and principles that Dr. King taught.
Comptroller Darlene Green talked about confronting obstacles mindful of Dr. King’s vision and example.
“Positive action brings about positive results and positive change,” Green said.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan reminded the audience that Dr. King was a fighter who opposed injustice – “he rocked the boat,” Carnahan said.
As the event progressed, the crowd grew in numbers, with many cultures and people of all ages in attendance. By the end, the floor of the courthouse was full, the second floor was full, and the third floor had a handful standing and watching the ceremony.
Thelma Smith and Sally Sutton attended the ceremony and joined the march to Powell Symphony Hall after it was over.
“I’m hoping that someday we as a black race will be treated the same – not blacks from slavery, but just us as equal,” Smith said.
“I admire Dr. King and his work. I too have the Dream and hope to live long enough to see the Dream,” Sutton said.
Mickey Rosen said he has been coming to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in St. Louis since the earliest days of the national holiday. The holiday was signed into law in 1983, first observed in 1986 and officially observed by all 50 states for the first time only in 2000.
Rosen hopes that the younger crowd heard what the elected officials were saying and learned some lessons about Dr. King.
“Everything he said is still in progress,” Rosen said. “Dr. King gave a beautiful scenery and opportunity for justice.”
The ceremony was held on the eve of the one-year anniversary in office of the nation’s first African-American President Barack Obama.
Congressman Clay imagined what Dr. King would say about that.
Clay said, “He would tell us the truth: the election of Barack Obama was not the fulfillment of the dream, but one step in the long journey to unity and brotherhood.”
