Historical March 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On Sunday, January 19, neighbors and friends crowded into Grace and Peace Fellowship to commemorate the life and work of the Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council and the New City School co-sponsored the event with Grace and Peace. Rev. Egon Middelmann of Grace and Peace delivered opening remarks and Dr. Thomas Hoerr, director of New City School, served as emcee.
The tone of the day was quickly set by soprano Athena Bush.
Her beautiful voice and her lyrics of love and peace were moving.
The principal speaker was Raymond Staples, senior class president at Washington University and former president of the black student group there. Staples posed a question: What would Dr. King say if he returned to earth today and viewed conditions both abroad and at home? Would he wonder if he had died in vain? Staples reminded his audience that this celebration should not obscure all the work yet to be done. Performances by students of New City School lent a very special and meaningful touch to the program. Under the direction of Joe Corbett, Danielle Egeling, and Hilary Flanders, the 7-8’s presented excerpts from “All • I Am” by Abiodun Oyewole and “Dream” by Langston Hughes.
The 6-7’s presented the story of Shape City.
In that town, squares, rectangles, and triangles lived very separate lives in very separate neighborhoods.
It took a natural disaster to teach them to work together to save their city.
These youngsters were directed by Sally Boggeman, Susie Chasnoff, and Jane Miles.
Following are some of the dreams offered by the New City students: My dream is for peace and happiness in the world; My dream is that white people will not rule the black people; My dream is that people will treat people how they want to be treated; My dream is that one day there will be no pollution, no killings, and no fighting; My dream is no wars, no pollution, no cutting down trees; My dream is no polluting, no cutting down the rain forest, and that everyone will be equal and that blacks will be free; My dream is no more drugs, gangs, or drug-related babies.
The commemoration concluded with remarks by Rabbi Susan Talve of the Central Reform Congregation.
She addressed her comments to the children in the audience and asked them to work very hard to find the good that is within us all and that allow us to live in harmony with all groups of people. Special thanks for this memorable afternoon go to Jack Wright, who chaired the event, and Nancy Farmer of SDCC.
They were assisted by Sally Boggeman, Ruth Johnson, Cari Marinella, Connie McFarland, Shirley Polk, and Jan Waits. •
Original photograph caption
At the King ceremony Erica Johnson is held by her mother Liz (Wright) Johnson; Marty Wright, Dave and Barb Schmidt, Sylvia Stahl also pictured. Photo by King Schoenfeld.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_03.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 6; PDF page(s) 1, 6.
