MIDDLETOWN - �"Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be maintained.”

       This quote of President James A. Garfield was on the program for the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, held this year on King’s birthday, Jan. 19, at First Church of Christ, Congregational. Garfield’s quote related well to the theme of the celebration: â€�"Saving Our Sons and Daughters Through Education.”

       Preceding the program, a gathering of about 75 people at the corner of Main Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, was greeted by Mayor Daniel Drew. Speaker, Minister Robert Kyle Hoggard of New Jerusalem Christian Center, said he was moved by one of Dr. King’s quotes: â€�"Education is the most powerful tool that we can use to change the world. Education allows us to change the world for the better.”

       Hoggard added, â€�"We should have people ready to give scholarships and help to others. We should ask ourselves what can I do to empower the next generation, what can I do to push somebody along the way?”

       A prayer was delivered by Rev. Ronnie Bantum of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Then about 75 people, singing â€�"We Shall Overcome,” joined in a march down Main Street, led by the organizers, the mayor, several Common Council members and state Rep. Matt Lesser, to the church.

       At First Church, the Rev. Julia Burkey welcomed the several hundred attendees, saying, â€�"Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”

       In her prayer, she thanked God for giving King the strength to lead his people.

       â€�"Allow us,” she continued, â€�"as the prophet Micah said, ‘to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.’ Transform our hearts and our lives, oh God, so that we can create a world where justice runs down like water, and righteousness like an everlasting stream.”

       A dance presentation demonstrating the struggle for freedom from slavery and the fight for civic rights was given by the Ministry of Dance youth. The performers wore plastic chains and danced to illustrate the effort needed to break those chains. They danced to the spoken words of Erica Hunter, a member of Cross Street AME Zion Church. She recited, â€�"Chains need to be broken, the chains of prejudice...the chains of hatred, and the chains of discrimination; the chains of the misuse of power need to be broken. Has justice turned its cheek on us after all these years?. . .Please reassure me that Dr. King’s words weren’t just a dream.”

       Yolanda D. Hart, president of the MLK, Jr. Scholarship Committee, introduced Master of Ceremonies Grady Faulkner, Jr. Faulkner has been a member of the Common Council since 2006 and has been involved in many organizations working for the good of the community, especially youth.

       Faulkner reminisced about the first MLK, Jr. birthday celebration in the city.

       â€�"It was big time;” he related how there were three or four stops for the March where speakers would address a particular topic. The stops included City Hall, he said, â€�"because we had a lot to talk about what goes on in City Hall.”

       Faulkner emphasized that Dr. King was an educated man and he believed strongly in education. However, said Faulkner, King felt that many people were getting their education for the wrong reason: To take advantage of others. Faulkner said King benefitted from having teachers who were Black and were good examples for him.

       In the 1950‘s, there was already a civil rights movement, Faulkner said, â€�"but it needed a leader, a face. MLK gave that face to the movement. Now, we are the movement and we don’t have to wait for another MLK. You can be part of this movement, from wherever you are, and further its goals.”

       Faulkner emphasized that young people need consistency, values, and guidance. Middletown has the organizations to do this, and they need to look for more opportunities to help young people. Citizens should also get involved in the city and its work, added Faulkner. â€�"The city is looking for a lot of ideas. Get involved.”

       Mayor Daniel Drew then spoke to the audience and made two points. He told of meeting a young woman who said she didn’t think there was a place for her in city affairs; he was struck by her comment. Drew said, â€�"I want people to understand that the government is open, and it is your government; it belongs to you.”

       Drew pointed out that Dr. King said he would not let anyone drag him down. It takes courage and character to fight that visceral human reaction of anger or frustration, and focus instead on loving your fellowman.

       Drew continued, â€�"It’s important that we focus on what brings us together. When you don’t focus on unity and love, then, when you see someone else, you see only those superficial differences which causes you to fear and fear leads to violence. Dr. King taught us that love is the most important virtue. Love can overcome fear and prevent violence.”

       A poem read by I’ Keem McDaniel, â€�"Mirrors,” included an appeal to police officers to look in the mirror and see themselves, to try to make better judgements about African Americans they see on the streets. The poem added that they need to come up with â€�"a better plan so that justice can become a reality. When you look in the mirror, if you want the facts, the only one who can change things is staring right back.”

       A praise band called â€�"The Annointed Ones” from Shiloh Baptist Church, sang and danced a song that was loudly applauded by congregation.

       Community organizations and other groups brought their scholarship contributions forward to present while a choir from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church sang a song of love.

       Keynote speaker Dr. Lois Brown--Class of 1958 Distinguished Professor, chair of the African American Studies program and director of the Center for African American Studies at Wesleyan University, teaching in the English Department--addressed the congregation about education for African Americans. She applauded the efforts of people in Middletown and Connecticut to fight discrimination in the early 1800’s, mentioning the efforts of Prudence Crandall when she set up a school in Canterbury for young African American girls.

       Brown related the story of King’s working in the tobacco fields of Connecticut when he was a youth. She told of his visit in 1947 when he came here for a visit. She went with him to Hartford and quoted him as saying, â€�"I never thought that a person of my race could eat anywhere.” They had a very fine dinner and went to an entertaining stage production afterwards.

       King visited Middletown in 1964 to received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Wesleyan. Brown recalled that he was â€�"hailed as a prophet of your people and a Christian demanding Christian values and Christian means to achieve justice.”

       Brown stated that even without King and his leadership, â€�"we still have the resources to overcome the discrimination and racial hatred that still exists today.” She said that education was the most important of those resources. In referring to the belief in the healing balm of Gilead, she asked, â€�"Who is to teach this lesson, and who is to learn it?” She encouraged students who sought to become doctors, lawyers, or teachers to also â€�"become a dedicated fighter for civil rights; it will make you better doctors, better lawyers, better teachers.”

       â€�"So much today,” Brown stated, â€�"is still about King’s vision of tomorrow. Yet there is a gulf between the 21st Century and Dr. King’s time.”

       She urged people to be more concerned with a system in our country that still allows taking away of voting rights and allows discrimination against people of color to persist today. â€�"We must come to understand that evil does exist. Disorder and penchant for evil do prosper. We must accept finite disappointment, but never defeat in our work for equality.”

       Quoting Dr. King, Brown said, â€�"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice...So today, let us recommit ourselves to pursuing education and to becoming and creating the society that provides justice for all,” she urged.

       Hart made the closing remarks for the day, reporting that Scholarship Fund had raised more than $5,000 from the collection. She said, â€�"In celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are also acknowledging the fact that there is a need for this important scholarship. We want our kids to succeed and go to college; that is why we are here today. As Dr. King did, we thank God that we are here, and we are grateful that our community is joining us today. And to those who do go to college, make sure you come back to the community to help it.”

       The Rev. Burkey gave the closing prayer.