Residents and nonresidents of Culver City alike gathered for Culver City’s Ninth Annual Celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 18 at the Senior Center.
With the theme, “What did Dr. King say? And what will we do?” many gathered to hear keynote presentation Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith of Agape International Spiritual Center and to watch the special screening of the epic 1970 Sidney Lumet film, “King: A Filmed Record. . . From Montgomery to Memphis.”
“I am interested to hear what is taking place today,” Franzwah Estrada said. “I went to the 50th anniversary of the March in Washington event last year and it was an amazing experience. There were people from all walks of life, all races: it was an experience. So I want to see what is going on here today.”
The all-day event included Culver City Mayor Jeff Cooper giving The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee a proclamation for their hard work in putting together the event.
“This is such a great event that we are having this morning to celebrate a man who dedicated himself to nonviolence, equality and civil rights,” Mayor Cooper said. “It is great to look out and see this great group of diversity and it really reflects what Culver City is all about.”
Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. happens every year throughout the country, however; some of the people in attendance believe that celebrating should include learning more about the iconic civil-rights leader.
“He offered hope for minorities and other people who were facing oppression,” Willistine Arms who lives close to Culver City said. “I grew up in the south where it was segregated and even though segregation in the school system was outlawed in 1954, it wasn’t implemented until several years later.”
Almost 46 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, his nonviolent stance for justice and equality remains the most admirable of traits in the minds of many.
“He has done so much for change, especially with the nonviolence approach,” Estrada said. “I don’t think I could have done nonviolence but he made some great changes. We need to educate youngsters because some kids do not realize what Dr. King went through.”
The social progress made since the death of Dr. King is unlike any other in the history of the country but for people like Arms that does not mean that there is no work remaining.
“I think it is important to keep celebrating this date because we still have issues facing this nation,” Arms said. “We need to realize that it was people like Dr. King that led the way for social justice among all races and classes of people. It is good for us to know where we came form and how we got to where we are, but we do need to realize that we have issues that need to be dealt with.”
