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.
Comments
Obama is a phony. He is a politician. If you look to him or anyone else to make your life better you are a fool. By the way I am not racist.
Maybe not, but you are an idiot.
Oh please...The "good Rev." should be concerned with all, key word being All, people's lives not just the black race...It is getting rather old folks...
You can't stop and admit that there may be a hint of equality. The moment you do the perks go away.
christian with a small c, you are so right. So when will you stop using it?
When others cease throwing their prejudices in my face Hypo==firefighter...:-)
Lol today is a historical day that every american can be proud out. Like rodney king atleast for today. ''Can we all just get along''
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest leaders and greatest orators in the world in the 20th century. He spoke many powerful truths, but the one statement of his that repeats in my mind is, "I just want to do God's will." He gave up everything to use his talents to serve the Lord, and the whole world benefitted. If we would each bow before God and ask humbly how we should use our talents to follow him, what would the world be like?
Let's see, the President, the most powerful person in the media, the most popular golfer/sportsman in the world are all black. Black people are 14% of the population of the United States so that seems pretty good to me. Can someone please sit down and come up with the set of criteria that we have to meet to finally say that black people have overcome what was done to them? If it means the next 30 Presidents, representation at %150 of the population in congress whatever, lets just have a point in time when we can stop having to be brwbeaten with how bad they have it now. Notice I said now, because no one with any sense would deny that black people were mistreated greatly in their history in the US by whites, its a fact.
I agree with you D1216...They have been mistreated...But not now and not for a long while...I would also like to add along with the mistreated blacks stand the still mistreated American Indian as well as all other races who came to these lands 200 or more years ago...It is time to grow up and take responsibility and become the Americans this country needs instead of this endless moaning and groaning about "times are better but we got a long ways to go" mentality...It is tiresome to say the least...
yes. some will never stop beating that tired, dead horse. With all the preferential treatment going on and the affirmative action in the white house, haven't we come a long way now ? I am just so happy we have a president who can walk on water :)
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