way to better herself.' (U.S... VIEW ORIGINAL
A parade of colors decorates the back of Fort Jackson's NCO Club as white pieces of paper filled
with student art hang for viewing.
On her paper, 2nd grader Angie Perez drew a big bright yellow sun above a writing prompt asking
students to dream like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
She wrote underneath her drawing in pencil "love is more porwerful then hate." Although misspelled,
the quote is almost identical to one Dr. King wrote in his 1967 book "Where do we go from here."
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
The Fort Jackson community honored King during a luncheon Jan. 20 at the NCO Club on post.
King, a civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, was known for promoting peace and advocating for racial equality.
About 500 people showed up to Fort Jackson's NCO club to celebrate King's life and enjoy the
live entertainment, artwork and guest speaker.
Alfred Mae Drakeford, the first black woman mayor of Camden, South Carolina and guest of
honor for the event, told the crowd she thought Dr. King would be very proud of the U.S. military today.
"I think that Dr. King would want you to keep an eye on injustice, because, as he says, injustice
anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," Drakeford said. "But I think Dr. King would ask more to this audience."
She told attendants of the event that she believes King's message will be much different today than it was in the 1960s.
"So why are (you) here today, standing ready to fight and die for your country? While the benefits
of the military career are excellent but is it worth your life?"
She asked the military personnel in the crowd particularly.
"Dr. King says 'there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so internally
true that they are worth dying for.' And I submit to you that if a man has not discovered something that he would die for, he's isn't fit to live ... Freedom is worth dying for," Drakeford said.
The live entertainment kicked off with Joseph Keels Elementary School's Awesome Little
Divas Step and Dance Team.
The girls performed traditional dances done by African American Sororities and Fraternities.
King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
"Rosa Parks sat so Dr. King can walk. Dr. King walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so
that we can now fly," the team of girls shouted as they stomped their feet to a beat.
Other entertainment for the event included a short play and dance segment by GME Live
Entertainment. Artist Tariq Mix revealed a piece of artwork inspired by King called "Challenge
of Change."
King is most known for his 1963 "I have a dream" speech to a crowd of over 250,000 people
in Washington, D.C. In it he explained his dreams of being in a world where everyone is free and
equal.
"Dr. King said 'I look to a day when people would not be judge by the color of their skin, but by
the content of their character,'"said Col. Michael Katona, 193rd Infantry Brigade commander.
"Dr. King's words embody the spirit of the great Soldiers and civilians we have in our United
States Army and right here on Fort Jackson."
Social Sharing