Southland Remembers King
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1929. His birth is now a national holiday used by some to honor his legacy of service to humanity. The work he did as a non-violent peace broker and anti-segregationist has become a source of honor.
The King Holiday was celebrated at South Suburban College Monday with a program that assembled student, politicians, faith leaders, community organizations and residents, and more inside the Kindig Performing Arts Center.
School District 205 bands and students made performing and visual arts presentations. The district includes Thornton Township, Thornridge and Thornwood high schools.
Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the areas congressman, were among those attending.
Dr. Kings life and his story tell us that change can come if you dont give up, Preckwinkle told the over-capacity crowd. We still need persistence and determination today. We need people who are willing to work for social justice knowing that the change they seek may not happen in their own lifetimes.
Jackson, who is up for re-election in the 2nd Congressional District ---which includes the college, was asked to give remarks.
The measure of this man is not measured by longevity. Its measured by the quality of his life and his commitment to serve the least of these, Cong. Jackson said, adding that King lived only to age 39.
He pointed out Kings impact on society in the relatively short time that he lived.
The meaningful life must not be measured by the material things that we are able to amass any period of time. What an extraordinary message to these young men and women, that we measure ourselves by how much we do for other people, not by how much we do for ourselves.
It was the Rev. Reginald W. Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church of University Park and keynote speaker for the event, who kindled Kings Baptist preacher spirit and oratorical cadence as Williams talked about the civil rights leaders grassroots works.
Dr. King lived his life as a self-less servant to the people, the pastor said to amens and applause. Too often we praise and remember a sanitized King and fail to think about the sacrifices that King had to make.
He moved the crowd with his fiery message.
We remember him for the last three minutes of a 19-minute speech, said Williams. We hold him to a dream but dont recall the fact that just a little while later he declared that his dream had turned into a nightmare.
Then a special presentation was made by the Top Teens of America South Suburban Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction organization. In honor of Dr. King, the youth made a food donation to the Thornton Township food bank.
The Southlands remembrance of Dr. King continued at Bethlehem Temple Missionary
Baptist Church, 20 E. 147th St. in Harvey, as South Suburban Concerned Clergy Inc. presented its 5th Annual Celebration of Life & Legacy honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A roster of noted preachers participated in the program, which also included special scholarship and community service presentations.
Thornwood freshman, Glennita Williams, received the organizations Youth Community Volunteer Living the Dream Award for her work sending care packages to active duty military personnel abroad, and providing support to local veterans. She was one of four given the Living the Dream Award.
Williams was previously honored by the governor and received other national mentions for her work, which started when the now-15-year-old was in elementary school and wanted to send Twinkies snack cakes to a friends father serving in Iraq. Her care packages grew bigger and included other personal items.
The things that I sent over were what (the troops) needed. It was just so heartfelt to see that they were happy, she said. When I saw the response from them, I was like OK I need to do more. It felt good to help them.
Williams said she and her parents expected the first shipment to be the only one. Now she sends care packages to several servicemen at least twice a year. Her project has gotten so big in her South Holland hometown that the mayor allows her to use a city-owned community center to help collect goods and box them up for shipment. Her parents help her haul all of the packages to the post office for shipping. She now works through the non-profit Americas Guardian Angels organization she founded and heads.
She said was honored to be recognized in the spirit of King.
Martin Luther King has done so much for the community. Hes done so much for different races as well. He stood for everybody being equal, she said.
By Rhonda Gillespie
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