Pat McKissack Highlights Memorable King Commemoration

February 1996

MLK Commemoration Planning Committee. Photo by King Schoenfeld.

Historical February 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

On Jan. 14, the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration took place at Grace and Peace Church. Chaired by Jack Wright, the program featured remarks from Rev. Kurt Lutjens of Grace and Peace and Rev. Miki Merritt of New Cote Brilliante Church of God as well as memorable music from the New Cote Brilliante Choir. Students from a number of area schools– Bethel, New City, Hamilton, St. Roch–presented skits and songs to illustrate the impact of King’s life. MLK Commemoration Planning Committee The highlight of the afternoon was the keynote remarks of Patricia McKissack. McKissack, a noted author of numerous children’s books, had lived for over 25 years on 58xx Pershing.

Following are excerpts from her moving remarks: “At Thanksgiving my husband and I took my father to Nashville and we went on a tour of the city, looking at a place where he had grown up.

It brought back memories to me as well. Today, because of King and others too many to name but who include my husband who was part of the sit-in demonstrations, I am welcomed at the Grand 01′ Opera, Morrison’s Cafeteria, the Andrew Jackson Hotel.” McKissack also remembered getting a library card there, which meant everything to her. “What would Dr. King think today, if we could take him on a tour. What would he see and what would he say?

The clues to his responses are taken from his speeches, his writings, the quotes he used from other sources, and his own actions. “If Dr. King came back today he would be pleased in many ways but shocked and dismayed in other ways.

For example, he would be overjoyed to see the large number of African Americans who hold elected political positions all over the country–especially in the South.

But when looking at Congress, he might wonder if he was in 1996 or 1896. “I think if Dr. King were at this podium today, he would simply say, ‘Are you registered to vote?

If so, did you vote the last time there was an election for local, state, or a federal position?’ If your answer is no, then let me encourage you to register Patricia McKissack, featured speaker and vote and send a message to those who would turn the clock back to 1896. “If Dr. King could come back and look at our youth and ask us why we allowed them to fall into such despair. He’d look at the baggy clothing. He’d look at the movements, their music, and their videos.

He would be disturbed, I dare say furious by what he sees, but not at the children.

Dr. King would probably use one of his famous homespun quotes—An apple don’t fall far from the tree.’ Our young people are the product of our labors- -the good as well as the bad.

They are a mirror of who we are and what we have become.

When we call them names, the names also apply to us. Before we can begin to fix what is wrong with our youth, we must first admit that we have failed our children as parents, as neighbors, as clergy, as educators, journalists, physicians, athletes.

I imagine if King came back today, he’d be among the youth, in the streets for that’s where he was in the 1960s, being a drum major for our youth. Why aren’t you listening to the words the rappers are saying? Get beyond the shock of the language and you’ll hear that some of them are saying the same thing Dr. King was saying back in 1968. They’re talking about the ills of society–drugs, gangs, devastating poverty. “Dr. King would look at crime and firmly take a stand against unnecessary acts of violence. “Dr. King would call on us to show compassion.

If Dr. King could come back today, he would speak often about understanding. Understanding comes when individuals are willing to invest in learning, patient enough to see it through, and then possess a willingness to change. “We can’t go back. ‘We’ve come a long way, but we’ve still got a long, long way to go.

If you can’t run, walk.

If you can’t walk, crawl.

But by all means, keep moving.’ Reach out and touch someone.

It is difficult for in reaching out, you run the risk of rejection. And rejection is painful, but as Fanny Lou Hamer said, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ Go with love in your heart, compassion in your deed, and understanding in your thoughts–and we can conquer the hatred that is within and without. ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”