MLK Jr. breakfast
19 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
This is our….4th year to attend the Arapahoe Community College MLK Jr. breakfast. The food was great this year, even Hannah agrees.
But, we don’t go for the food. After the singing of the National Anthem and the board introductions, we heard the Young voices of Colorado choir sing a few songs.
Then it was time for the Mayor of Littleton, Mayor Doug Clark, to give his speech. He’s our Mayor too – we may live in Highlands Ranch, but it’s not a city and technically we’re in the city of Littleton. The Mayor always give a good speech and this time was no different.
He said, ‘My generation and my father’s generation probably asked this past November ‘Is America ready for a black president?’ Whereas my daughters’ generation asked ‘Isn’t America ready for a black president?’ We have come so far, but is this all there is?’ He went on to say that Dr. King would think it’s great that we have a black man as president, but we should still be an America where equality for all and peace to all is our goal. He remembered the bus boycotts and Birmingham, the march on Washington and desegregation.
Interesting time notes: It’s been
36 years since Colorado schools were fully desegregated.
40 years since Dr. King Jr. was killed.
45 years since Dr. King Jr. visited Littleton, CO.
We heard some children from a local school read a poem they wrote and then listened to the giving out of awards and scholarships. Lastly, we saw a video of some Dr. King speeches and gatherings set to music, it was very moving. I guess most people are right in telling me how well my children act when we go places. Since kids have school off today and there were 2 sets of kids singing and reading poems, there were more kids at the breakfast than usual. They were not good. A gaggle of boys were sitting on the ground blocking people for about 15 minutes before their dad came over and told them to move against the wall (how about telling them to get their butts in a chair?) Then there were 2 boys running around and around and around…I wanted to trip them, really I did. Most children might think the speeches and whole thing was boring, but I think it’s good to take kids to events like this. They learn how to sit for 2 hours, when to stand and applaud when needed, when to clap, when to listen, it’s great. But I really hope there are fewer out of control kids there next year!
Here’s a puzzle to solve on-line.
Here’s a quiz on his life.
Here’s a really cool on-line time-line.
