Historical February 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This year, neighbors and friends packed Grace and Peace Fellowship on January 15 to celebrate the life and work of the Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A number of schools participated in the program, adding energy and enjoyment for everyone. Jack Wright, chairman of the Commemoration Committee, opened the program, the sixth to be held under the auspices of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council and Grace and Peace as well as schools and churches in the community.
He read some remarks of Dr. King and then introduced Ted Smith of Grace and Peace who provided a welcome from the church. Then, the program was taken over by children from four schools who presented King’s ideas in different ways. Children from Bethel School had a song and reading.
A choral reading was also presented by children from Hamilton School’s third through fifth grades, followed by a rendition of I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.” New City School’s first graders followed with “A Little Like Me, A little Like You.” The Young African Americans Positive Awareness Group, organized by New City counselor Liz Johnson and made up of fifth and sixth graders, presented poems and skits that they themselves had written. Closing the school segment, two St. Roch students offered ‘Vision of Peace Messages.” It was no wonder that emcee Jack Wright remarked that “the salvation of our world is our children.” The New Cote Brilliante Church of God choir offered a powerful adaptation of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Wright then introduced the principal speaker: Chief Clarence Harmon of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police. Harmon spoke about how to organize the struggle today.
He said that King’s dream is not dead but there is reason for concern. “In St. Louis dawn never begins for too many of our young people. Eight of ten people killed in the city are African American; nine of ten are male. Half are 25 and younger.” Harmon felt that “we are not providing our young people with some of the lessons and values young people had in.
Dr. King’s time.” Chief Harmon noted that “because of the struggles of King, black men have more opportunities.
There are more resources available.
We tend to overlook the young men who take advantage of opportunities.” However, many young men do turn to gangs that provide family and identification and role models.
These are young men untouched by school or religious experience. Harmon asked what we could do to turn things around.
He encouraged everyone to reach out through churches, clubs, and social and professional organizations to young people. “None of us did it alone.” It is important to show how poverty and racial discrimination can be overcome. Harmon concluded that “the greatest reward for you is to turn a young person’s life around.” He urged the assembly to reclaim our children’s future.
The Rev. Mikki Merritt of New Cote Brilliante Church of God offered a benediction.
The commemoration closed with the large crowd singing ‘We Shall Overcome.” Grace and Peace Fellowship then provided refreshments at a reception in the social hall.
Original photograph caption
School children at1995M.L.K.event present pictures and a story. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
