BROOKLYN HONORS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
Symposium & Concert Pays Tribute to His Legacy
By Keith L. Forest
Since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday was declared a national holiday over 2 decades ago, elected officials, celebrities, social organizations and community leaders nationwide have used the third Monday in January to not only celebrate Dr. King’s legacy but to honor those who continue to carry his torch of equality and justice for all.
On Sunday, January 20, 2008, political activist Kevin Powel along with Akila Worksongs, Inc. honored Dr. King’s legacy during their annual celebration in Brooklyn at The Kumble Theater for Performing Arts at Long Island University. Host by NY-1 TV personality, Dominic Carter, the program featured a multi cultural group of young community activists committed to making change. Those panelist included Jose Lopez of Bushwick Research and Action on Gentrification; John Buffalo Mailer, Playwright, Journalist, ; Ai-Jen Poo, Lead Organizer for Domestic Workers; Tahani Salah, Poet and Youth Outreach Coordinator at UrbanWord NYC; and Dara Silverman, Executive Director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. The program was keynoted by Mr. Powell a prolific speaker destined for greatness.
On Monday, January 21, in King’s honor the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York presented the 22nd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Come Share the Dream event.
The program, which included a live performance by the Christian Cultural Center’s Choir, brought together various elected officials, community activists and supporters from all over the state. Such luminaries as US Senator Chuck Schumer and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes were on hand to share excerpts from King’s speeches. House Speaker Christina Quinn, who last year deprived Bedford Stuyvesant residence of their civil rights when she vetoed the street naming in honor Bed Stuy hero Sonny Carson, also greeted the audience. Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President, Mart Markowitz and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke were also on hand to give speeches.
The highlight of the evening was a rather short but impacting performance by the legendary Mavis Staples who not only performed her classic “I’ll Take You There” with full participation from the audience, but also sat down with Medgar Ever College President, Edison O. Jackson for a one on one interview.
The Legendary songstress shared how her father, the renowned Pop Staples, forged a close friendship with Dr. King after hearing him preach at the Dexter Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL “Pops said I really like this man. I like his message and if he can preach it, we can sing it.” This relationship and the songs that followed including “We Shall Not Be Moved”, “Eyes On The Prize”, “Oh Freedom”, “On My Way” and others resulted in the Staples becoming the spiritual voice of the civil rights movement.
It was during the benediction given by Rev. Robert Waterman, Sr. Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Stuyvesant, that the audience really became enlightened. . “I know we want the dream to be reality,” proclaimed Rev. Waterman, who this past Sunday, January 20, while on his way to the church that he pastors was stopped by the police and forced to show ID.
Drawing from Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream Speech” Rev. Waterman reminded the audience that although our ancestors fought so hard to cash in that overdue promissory note on the steps of Lincoln Memorial that historical day of August 28, 1963 many of us are still “given bad checks marked with insufficient funds.” Rev. Waterman noted that these un-cashable checks are reflected in Brooklyn’s current health crisis where our great borough is listed as the epic center for HIV/AID; in our school system where testing supersedes educating our children; and in our prison system where efforts are placed on preventing return offenders instead of stabilizing our young men from ever going into the penal system.
As we approach this new and exciting year of new beginnings leaving behind a year of preparation, we should all remain grateful to the selfish contributions Dr. King and others have made on our behalf. We are the benefactors and rightful heirs of his dream and we can honor his legacy this election year by voting for a viable candidate that supports our collective causes, is dedicated to making positive changes in our communities and upholds our rights as citizens of these United States.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.
Symposium & Concert Pays Tribute to His Legacy
By Keith L. Forest
Since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday was declared a national holiday over 2 decades ago, elected officials, celebrities, social organizations and community leaders nationwide have used the third Monday in January to not only celebrate Dr. King’s legacy but to honor those who continue to carry his torch of equality and justice for all.
On Sunday, January 20, 2008, political activist Kevin Powel along with Akila Worksongs, Inc. honored Dr. King’s legacy during their annual celebration in Brooklyn at The Kumble Theater for Performing Arts at Long Island University. Host by NY-1 TV personality, Dominic Carter, the program featured a multi cultural group of young community activists committed to making change. Those panelist included Jose Lopez of Bushwick Research and Action on Gentrification; John Buffalo Mailer, Playwright, Journalist, ; Ai-Jen Poo, Lead Organizer for Domestic Workers; Tahani Salah, Poet and Youth Outreach Coordinator at UrbanWord NYC; and Dara Silverman, Executive Director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. The program was keynoted by Mr. Powell a prolific speaker destined for greatness.
On Monday, January 21, in King’s honor the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York presented the 22nd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Come Share the Dream event.
The program, which included a live performance by the Christian Cultural Center’s Choir, brought together various elected officials, community activists and supporters from all over the state. Such luminaries as US Senator Chuck Schumer and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes were on hand to share excerpts from King’s speeches. House Speaker Christina Quinn, who last year deprived Bedford Stuyvesant residence of their civil rights when she vetoed the street naming in honor Bed Stuy hero Sonny Carson, also greeted the audience. Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President, Mart Markowitz and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke were also on hand to give speeches.
The highlight of the evening was a rather short but impacting performance by the legendary Mavis Staples who not only performed her classic “I’ll Take You There” with full participation from the audience, but also sat down with Medgar Ever College President, Edison O. Jackson for a one on one interview.
The Legendary songstress shared how her father, the renowned Pop Staples, forged a close friendship with Dr. King after hearing him preach at the Dexter Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL “Pops said I really like this man. I like his message and if he can preach it, we can sing it.” This relationship and the songs that followed including “We Shall Not Be Moved”, “Eyes On The Prize”, “Oh Freedom”, “On My Way” and others resulted in the Staples becoming the spiritual voice of the civil rights movement.
It was during the benediction given by Rev. Robert Waterman, Sr. Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Stuyvesant, that the audience really became enlightened. . “I know we want the dream to be reality,” proclaimed Rev. Waterman, who this past Sunday, January 20, while on his way to the church that he pastors was stopped by the police and forced to show ID.
Drawing from Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream Speech” Rev. Waterman reminded the audience that although our ancestors fought so hard to cash in that overdue promissory note on the steps of Lincoln Memorial that historical day of August 28, 1963 many of us are still “given bad checks marked with insufficient funds.” Rev. Waterman noted that these un-cashable checks are reflected in Brooklyn’s current health crisis where our great borough is listed as the epic center for HIV/AID; in our school system where testing supersedes educating our children; and in our prison system where efforts are placed on preventing return offenders instead of stabilizing our young men from ever going into the penal system.
As we approach this new and exciting year of new beginnings leaving behind a year of preparation, we should all remain grateful to the selfish contributions Dr. King and others have made on our behalf. We are the benefactors and rightful heirs of his dream and we can honor his legacy this election year by voting for a viable candidate that supports our collective causes, is dedicated to making positive changes in our communities and upholds our rights as citizens of these United States.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.
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