ELLERBE – Monday, January 15, marked the 89th anniversary of the birth of Michael (who would later become Martin Luther) King. On this holiday, the Sidney Grove Agape Center in Ellerbe was the scene of an energetic, yet respectful and introspective, luncheon in his honor.
Organized and hosted by Richmond County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Steering Committee, which has been featured on LIVE AT 5 and in previous RO articles, the annual holiday luncheon was all that anyone could have envisioned, complete with food, soulful gospel music and universal camaraderie permeating the room of over 250 guests.
Bruce Stanback served admirably as the day’s master of ceremonies, seamlessly shepherding the twelve phases of the gathering throughout the two hours from 12 to 2 p.m. He alternated appropriately between timely introductions and the recognition of numerous attendees, citing multiple individuals and groups as being present and/or otherwise supportive of the occasion.
The Richmond County School Board was well-represented, as was the Town of Ellerbe with Mayor Lee Berry and members of the Ellerbe Town Council. Individual dignitaries such as State Senator Tom McGinnis, Clerk of Court Vickie Daniels, and Richmond Community College President Dale McGinnis were also numbered among the guests, as were Reverend James Smith, winner of the MLK Community Service Award, and long-time educators J.C. and Ruth Watkins.
A most poignant part of the session was the recognition of Richmond County students for their personal contributions to the honoring of Dr. King. Latasha Baker of Hamlet, a senior at Richmond Senior High School, was the winner of the Dr. King artwork submissions, while Saria Thomas, a fifth grader from Fairview Elementary, earned the award for “best essay” in commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Elementary grade students from Washington Street and L.J. Bell were also noted to have made impressive contributions in the essay contest, further demonstrating the talent and awareness of the youngest of the county’s students.
But the major highlight of the event was the message conveyed by guest speaker Wayne Goodwin, current state chairman of the Democratic Party, a former member of the General Assembly, and also former state insurance commissioner.
Goodwin, a native of Hamlet and self-proclaimed, “proud product of the Richmond County public school system,” was simultaneously “politically correct” and “evangelical” in providing a compelling rendition of how Dr. King’s efforts must not only be remembered, but continued, particularly via the education of our youth.
Alternating strategically between pithy aphorisms and timely interjections of humor, Goodwin was almost mesmerizing in his forty minutes of monologue. The aura of the polished politician was quite evident, of course, but Goodwin’s, “good old boy from the farmland of Ghio,” persona was what captured the attention of the constituents in attendance.
Goodwin appropriately noted the importance of Dr. King’s efforts subsequent to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision as rendered by the United States Supreme Court. It was arguably this case that, due to its effect of forcibly integrating schools, constituted the major point of departure in this nation’s official perspective on civil rights in general and racial equality in particular, as such pertained to the nation’s approach to our system of education.
Prior to (and even immediately after) Brown, the societal position was seemingly to, “advance with less than deliberate speed” in regard to the realization of racial equality. Dr. King was obviously a primary catalyst for accelerating this movement and thus expediting the achievement of some semblance of equality of (or at least an improvement in regard to) civil rights for minorities.
It was this “integration,” both literally and figuratively, which Goodwin referenced in reminding guests of the importance of education. Not only is such the foundation of the future of today’s youth – and thus society itself – but education entails the latent effect of instilling basic rules of social relations, and it is this element of “education” that effectively sets the tone for the way in which people ultimately interact outside of school and throughout life.
Goodwin effectively helped the audience to reflect upon these and other such lessons as championed by Dr. King. It was in this way that Goodwin continually reminded the audience of the necessity of maintaining hope so that unity will manifest itself throughout the fabric of the nation’s core.
Issuing positive challenges to various facets of the community, Goodwin noted the need for all to incorporate the elements of Dr. King’s efforts and iconic dream into our respective roles in society.
Schoolchildren should, “learn something new every day”; teachers should, “instill a lifelong love of learning”; parents and grandparents should, “share their histories and experiences lest they be forgotten”; pastors should remind others that, “hate is never acceptable”; and elected officials (an ilk with which Goodwin readily admitted his own affiliation) must remember that they, “represent everyone,” no matter their political orientations and/or for whom they voted.
The gala event concluded with standing ovations and a sincere showing of “hope and unity” throughout the audience.
