Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 6 February 1992 — Page 4

The Muncie Times, Thursday, February 6, 1992, Page 4

Fulfilling Dr. King’s Dream in The 90s

The Horizon Center was an appropriate setting for the hundreds of people gathered to honor the 63rd birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme: Fulfilling King’s Dream in the nineties gave one a feeling of hope and expectancy. The Rev. W.J. Jackson (Union Missionary Baptist Church) delivered a stirring invocation as he acknowledged every sector of the Muncie community. He said, “We have came to commemorate and recognize that whenever we say we shall overcome, we do so in the power of God the Father. Julius Anderson, Boy Scout Pack #84, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Accompanying the citywide choir, the audience sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the African-American National Anthem. The choir, under the direction of Elder Keith O’Neal, Minister Wayne Stevens and Kevin Woodgett, performed several songs that moved the crowd to sing, clap, and cry. After greetings by the Rev. Henry Fuller, Calvary Baptist Church, the Rev. Michael Milben, Christ Temple Church, referred to the interdependency of mankind. He said, “we have to resist the temptation to reinterpret the dream. Rather, we need to continue in the tradition of his (Martin Luther King, Jr.) dream.”

A proclamation honoring the civil rights movement leader was read by Mayor David Dominick on behalf of the city of Muncie. Terrance Johnson, 13, was called from the audience by the Rev. Samuel Sumner, Bethel AM.E. Church, to deliver a powerful rendition of the “I Have A Dream” speech. He was given a standing ovation. Dr. T. Garrot Benjamin, Jr., Light of the World Church, Indianapolis, was the Keynote Speaker. He told the audience, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” He reminded the audience that God sent the best prophets for the worst age: Elijah in Ahab’s time; Moses in Pharoah’s and John the Baptist in the time of Herod. “Tonight we have came to honor Dr. King and then move on,” he said. “A lot of folk are remembering the nightmare. We need to move on with the dream and live the vision. The Lord gave us a champion and it is good to recognize the drum major for justice.

Community Focus by Judy Mays

Dr. Benjamin also said he sought to dispel the ignorance of those, black and white, who didn’t know why black people like to shout. “The Bible says that God’s people, in the presence of God, shout,” he said. He also said that shouting had nothing to do with heathenism, barbarianism, or lack of education. It is caused by a mixture of pride and pain, present predicaments and certainties and uncertainties. It’s a mixture of joy and pain, rough side and smooth side, encouragement and discouragement, he said. Throughout his provocative and challenging speech. Dr. Benjamin evoked “amens” and “that’s right” from the audience. “We are the sons and daughters of the greatest continent on earth - sons and daughters of kings and queens,” he said. “We didn’t just come from slavery, but from a kingdom. We came from Eve, a black woman - the mother of the earth. That makes a mockery of racism and here we all have the same mother.”

He said that people must break through the bondage of their minds. He referred to black-on-black crime. “Who kills us? Us. Yet, genocide is real. There is complicity. The drugs don’t belong to us. Black folk don’t own the planet. But we cannot excuse ourselves,” he said. Dr. Benjamin challenged people to commit themselves to a “higher ground. Shout in the morning, shout in the evening. Shout all over the place. God’s been good. God is on your side. Don’t wait until the battle is over...Shout now! Because in the end we win.” The service was sponsored by the Collective Coalition of Concerned Clergy. Special recognition was given by the Coalition to former Mayor James P. Carey and State Representative Hurley Goodall. (The following is a correc-' tion from the last issue). President of the N.E.D. Youth Convention, Jennifer Fuller said, “It is time out for our youth to just be given little verses to memorize and skits to do. We must be a real part of the church.” Hats off to the about 100 youths who participated in the workshops and activities for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Disciples of Christ Community Church. As the coordinator, I’d like to thank Jaynie Young and Rick Roberts, com-

mittee members, and the fine staff of the day care center. ea We have again this year excerpts from the city’s youth on what the Dr. King Holiday means: “Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday means that this is the day we take to pay tribute and give thanks to the man who started the movement to gain freedom and equality for all people. It also is the day that we should evaluate our lives and make sure that we are doing our pan in keeping the dream alive,” (by Danyell Upchurch). “Martin Luthei King Jr-.’s birthday is just a reminder to me of the struggle for equality that the African-Americans have to face. This battle is still going on in today’s society - it is just as out in the open' as it was back when Dr. King was alive. This society needs someone like Dr. King to stand up for Afri-can-American equality, not just for blacks, but for other races as well. People are so hung up on this black and white thing that they overlook the Latinos, Koreans and even women. We need somebody to stand up for the equality of all sexes, races, creeds, and religions,” (by Billy Dee Williams). Write Judy Mays c/o Muncie Times 1304 N. Broadway Muncie, Ind. 47303

Berry Appointed Jobs* Boss

(from pg. 1) pressing than others. We have to be sensitive to the individual needs of all people, because to someone who has just lost a job that’s the most important problem, whereas to someone on welfare or who wants to get on welfare hpran^p. hp has Inst a jofr

that’s also most important. “All these problems have to be worked out so that no one can feel neglected. No problem or person should be put at the bottom of our concerns.” Berry said he did not seek the position. He said Mayor David Dominick probably selected, biro, hena j is^ a£bis.

background and his familiarity with employment programs, including Job Partnership Training Act (JTPA), a federal program. Muncie holds a contract with East Central Indiana Private Industry Council to administer JTPA programs. Rpxrv has. been honored

by the Hoosier state for his service to employment and training programs. He has served on the state advisory committee of the Department of Employment and also on the evalu- ,■ ation committee of the Private Industry Council (PIC). He also chaired the Muncie chanter of the Min-

ority Purchasing Association. Berry is a product of the Muncie schools. He graduated from Muncie Central High School and Ball State Teachers College, now Ball State University. He also obtained additional training at the University of (cont. on pg. 5)