Community Corner
Greater Attleboro Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee of Greater Attleboro hosted its 25th celebration of the birthday of Dr. King starting with a municipal ceremony at City Hall followed by a ceremony at the Central Congregational Church.
The Greater Attleboro community started its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of celebration with a municipal ceremony at Attleboro City Hall featuring local politicians, and ended with an inspirational tribute to the Civil Rights leader at Central Congregational Church featuring recitations, song and inspirational speakers including Jacob K. Olupona of Harvard University.
This marked Attleboro’s 25th year celebrating the life of King who was assassinated in 1968.
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The event was organized by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee of Greater Attleboro.
The municipal program featured speeches by Mayor Kevin J. Dumas, City Councilman Frank Cook, State Representatives George T. Ross and Elizabeth A. Poirier, State Senator James E. Timilty, and U.S. Congressman James P. McGovern.
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Janet Hayes of Fruit of the Spirit Mission Church sang a selection of songs including “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”
Highlights of the municipal event included:
- Dumas read a proclamation declaring January 16, 2012 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the City of Attleboro.
- Cook noting this is Attleboro’s “silver anniversary,” having celebrated every year since the official holiday was declared in 1986.
- Ross noted that, “As long as we gather in groups like this, [King’s] memory will never fade and his dream will live forever.”
- Poirier said, “We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he showed us the way to mend those broken fences and to move on in building this land instead of destroying it.”
- Timilty called the day a “very important day” and said, “I think the biggest sin is to forget where we came from [or] to forget why we are where we are -- in the best country in the world -- but we can always be better” naming King’s pension for community service and participation in the political process.
- McGovern said, “These injustices that we talk about today weren’t so long ago. We’ve come a long way but…there are still forces of hate and intolerance out there,” adding noted there is still discrimination, prejudice, etc. in today’s world and he urged attendees, particularly the children, to stand up and make a change.
In addition, the Central Congregational Church was full of celebration – emceed by Ethel Garvin of the Committee – for the second part of Monday’s festivities which featured Jacob K. Olupona, a professor of African Religious Traditions with Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of African and African American Studies with Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Olupona, a native of Nigeria who has been living in the United States for the last 10 years, said he was surprised shortly after arriving in the United States in the 1970s (when he stayed for as short time), “Realizing that the color of my skin really mattered; it didn’t quite matter in Africa.”
He said he has witnessed five presidents and America has come a long way but there is still work to be done.
“Race indeed has not disappeared,” he said.
Olupona urged people to get involved, “not rest on our laurels,” learn from the past, invest in the future, give back to the community, not be too reliant on the government, and said, “Tomorrow will be a better day but we must work hard to make it happen.”
“Every year as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s anniversary, it must be a call to action, a reminder of our pledge to work towards a better society, to work towards a better racial harmony and peace in our communities and in our nation. This is the most beautiful country in the world.”
Other highlights from the second part of the celebration included:
- A Call to Worship and prayer by Rev. Carole Baker, Central Congregational Church, Attleboro Falls.
- Cantor Iris L. Jacobs of the Hayom Congregation in Sharon with an original work by Sylvia F. Goldstein entitled “Wisdom and Courage: A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
- A Welcome and remarks by Rev. Jewel Hardmon of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee of Greater Attleboro.
- The Chaminade Singers and St. Mary’s Choir who, led by Anna McReynolds and accompanied by Melanie Houlihan, performed several songs including We Shall Overcome and Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (also called The Negro National Anthem).
- A recitation by young Guhan Nandakumar of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
- An original poem of thanks to the Committee and participants by Selvanayaki Mayilsamy of the Committee.
- Recognition of the 2011 W. Duane Lockard Scholarship winners including Frank Cai, Garfield Douglas, Gloria Im, Jessica Im, Mary Mwangi, Avril Troope, and Jasmin Vivar.
- Recognition of Ahancheakly Phan, the winner of the Computer for College Program.
- Recognition of Madeline Griffith, Ryan Neal, and Samantha Price, the winners of this year’s essay contest entitled “Remembering Jim Crow.”
- A donation made by the Committee to OnCommonGroundInc.com for its work in the community.
- A donation of food collected at the event to the Council of Churches Breakfast Program.
- Benediction by Rev. Sandra D. Fitz-Henry of Murray Unitarian Universalist Church of Attleboro.
- A rousing rendition of “We Shall Overcome” to conclude the ceremony.
