Youth honor, continue King's dream

Barbara Larry leads the crowd with the song "Lift Every Voice" on Friday at the 18th annual African American Voice at the Texarkana Regional Arts Center in Texarkana, Texas.
Barbara Larry leads the crowd with the song "Lift Every Voice" on Friday at the 18th annual African American Voice at the Texarkana Regional Arts Center in Texarkana, Texas.

The dream that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of more then 55 years ago had a continuing ripple effect Friday evening at the Texarkana Regional Arts Center.

The center's Cabe Hall on the third floor became packed as more then 125 residents streamed in to either sit or stand up inside-or hover outside the hall doorways-as they watched the 18th annual African American Voice: An Evening of Performance with Special moments for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The performances included singing and dancing as well as spoken and musical tributes to King, conducted by youth and presented by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council's African-American Committee.

"Tonight, we hope that each young person here will want to take on a permanent part of the performing arts as a way of life," said Vicki Parks, the event's master of ceremonies.

Brian Goesl, the council's chief executive officer, said almost 19 years ago TRAHC members felt like they needed to reach out more to the Twin Cities' African-American community, and with the help of committee member Dr. Teretha Harper, it became a local dream that came true.

Committee member Beatrice Ross said it was awesome to see Cabe Hall completely filled and running over.

"It makes me so happy and glad to see all of you here because tonight we will be featuring our young people and this will be exciting," she said. "My church's motto was and still is 'It Can Be Done And Our Youth can Do It.'"

Ross went on to say that the committee will soon be opening its first library up at the Pecan Ridge residential area inside the Rose Hill neighborhood. She added that another committee library will be put in at the Southwest Center.

Before moving on to Dr. King's Candlelight Ceremony, committee member Lillie Young delivered King's Six Principles of Nonviolence. They are:

  •  Nonviolence is a way of life for the courageous;
  •  Nonviolence seeks to win friendships and understanding;
  •  Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people;
  •  Nonviolence can educate and inform;
  •  Nonviolence chooses to love and not hate;
  •  Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

MLK Day celebrations continue this morning with an MLK Day Community Prayer Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Lonoke Baptist Church, at 1841 Lonoke Ave. in Texarkana, Ark. This event will honor King's nonviolent principles. Admission will be $8 for adults and $5 for youth.

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