I’m honored to have been part of the King Center’s events celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the King Holiday this January 2021. The observance commemorated what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 92nd birthday! There was a host of virtual programs and events in celebration and I performed for the Beloved Community Awards which streamed live on social media, Youtube, and thekingcenter.org websites on January 16, 2021.
Moving and Powerful
The Beloved Community Awards was a moving and POWERFUL virtual event honoring those which are helping lead the way for this type of community, which King Center CEO, Dr. Bernice A King spoke about as follows:
As I consider the inhumanity, injustice and indifference currently persisting in our world, particularly in the United States of America, I cannot imagine a more relevant and powerful way to commemorate my father’s birthday than with focus on the urgency of creating the Beloved Community. Now, more than ever, we must turn our attention to fostering reconciliation, which includes truth and repentance, and also turn our attention to achieving true peace, which includes justice. The Beloved Community encompasses both true peace and reconciliation.” In the words of my mother, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, ‘The Beloved Community is a spiritual bond that claims the energies and commitment of a diverse group of people who desire to serve a cause larger than themselves.’ It is my hope that this year’s King Holiday Observance experiences will galvanize global citizens for the cause of creating the Beloved Community. Coretta Scott King, said, ‘The Beloved Community is a realistic vision of an achievable society, one in which problems and conflict exist, but are resolved peacefully and without bitterness.’
I believe we can do this together, and now is the time to lean in and work together to create the Beloved Community. I encourage you to watch the full event here. Here is my performance from the ceremony!!