The events of today will bring America one step closer to the dream that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of more than 45 years ago, the keynote speaker at an annual celebration of the civil rights leader's birthday said Monday. Bishop Othal Hawthorne Lakey, sixth district presiding prelate of the CME Church, spoke to about 375 people in the grand ballroom of the Augusta Marriott Hotel and reminded them that President-elect Obama's inauguration is just the beginning.

"It is the beginning of the end. The dream persists," Bishop Lakey said at the 12th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Award Breakfast. "If there was any brother that needs a prayer, it's President Obama."

The theme of the event -- sponsored by Augusta's chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity -- was "Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Message and Celebrating the Fulfiller." Jenkins-White Elementary School's Angelic Dancers, along with soloist A-hwa Bowman and a host of community speakers celebrated the influence that Dr. King's years of social activism had on Mr. Obama's election.

The breakfast had smaller attendance than in years past because many are attending the inauguration, said Ellis Albright, Unity Breakfast chairman.

"We would normally have about 450, but this still exceeded our expectations," he said. "We're glad that some were able to be there for the inauguration."

Alonzo Long of Grovetown said it was exciting to participate in the breakfast for the first time on the eve of the inauguration.

"Now we have a black president," Mr. Long said. "I think that's keeping the dream alive."

The Rev. Charles Goodman Jr., pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, challenged attendees to honor the message of Dr. King by doing more than celebrating America's first black president.

"As long as there's still injustice, we have to keep working," he said. "Dr. King's vision outlived him. We have to continue to do the best to change the culture, change the nation and change the world."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.