Celebrate MLK, Jr. in Santa Barbara!
Posted by toni-s on:
From the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee
Why We Remember the Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Santa Barbara, California - On Monday,
January 16th, 2012, the community will
celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr.
national holiday Following a morning
program of 17th century, African-American
dance and gospel song at 9:00 a.m. in De la
Guerra Plaza, celebrants will march, sing and
carry banners up State Street to the Arlington
Theatre.
The 11 o'clock program "Retelling the Story -
The Civil Rights Years" will feature Wallace
Shepherd, Sr., who knew Dr. King and protested
with him in the March on Washington in 1963.
High school students will ask questions about his
experiences: "What was it like? Were you afraid?
Did you think things would change?"
Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired generations to dream.
He said"Faith is taking the first step even when you
can't see the whole staircase."
In 1964, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. King,
the second black American to win the award; Ralph Bunch
won the first. The Nobel Committee called Dr. King
"the first in the western world to have show that a
struggle can be waged without violence."
The struggle was never only about race for Dr. King.
Film clips of King resonate today with our headlines.
In his "I Have a Dream" speech he said, "We refuse
to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.
We refuse to believe that there are insufficient
funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.
And so, we've come to cash the check, a check that
will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and
the security of justice."
Young winners of our Essay/Prose contest will read
their insights to the audience. A community choir
and dancers will highlight the
program.
A complementary lunch will be provided afterwards.
In spite of the rain last year about 1,200 people
participated in the free day of events.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara
is comprised of a diverse group of individuals who
volunteer their time throughout the year in planning
the celebration. More information about the event can
be found on its website www.mlksb.com. The non-profit
organization appreciates all support; make checks
payable to MLK, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara and
mail to MLK, Jr. Committee of
Santa Barbara, PO Box 475, Santa Barbara, CA 93102.
Prior to the MLK, Jr. holiday weekend , the Broadway hit,
"Hairspray" will be performed at the Lobero Theatre,
on January 12th and 13th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
In the 1960's, in Baltimore, an unpopular teenager's
dreamto dance on a televised top ten teenage dance
program becomes true. A sudden celebrity overnight,
she uses her star power to officially integrate the show
and broadcast the messages of Dr. King.
Produced in partnership with Big Sage Productions
and SB Dance Arts, tickets are available at the
Lobero.com.
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