Dr. King’s Legacy Celebrated With Pride, Touching Performances

ST. CROIX — Some marched hand-in-hand, others held signs while they took the long walk from the Claude O. Markoe Elementary school down to the Budhoe Park. Organized bands from this island’s public schools did the same, as well as sororities, fraternities and groups such as the Army JROTC. At the end of the line, the Adventist VI Pulse Drum Corp. mesmerized onlookers as they pounded their drums and sang lines honoring the memory and legacy of the man everyone turned out to celebrate: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this year being the territory’s 22nd annual.

It all happened on Monday in Frederiksted, this year seeing strong turnout, which highlighted the significance of Dr. King’s bequest to the islands. Similar events were held in St. Thomas as well.

“I was impressed by the number of schools that participated, clearly it’s growing,” Senate President Neville James told The Consortium yesterday at the ceremony. “We don’t want it to necessarily outgrow it’s effect because we don’t want to lose people because of size. But, to me, this is like a start of the second part of the school year for the children.” Mr. James said he was pleased to see the fraternities and sororities involved in the activities, hailed Dr. King’s importance and influence on the territory, and praised the event’s organizer, the Central Labor Council of the Virgin Islands, for yet another successful affair.

Senator Novelle Francis, a freshman Democrat, also recognized the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, but while he was encouraged by yesterday’s celebration, he said more needed to be down in relation to violence committed by and against black men.

“There’s always room for improvement, but today’s representation is certainly very respectable to Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day. The students came out in droves, showed their presence and performed, and I thought it was an event fit for Dr. King’s efforts.”

He added: “We still face some struggles in this community. Obviously there’s still a level of distrust and a level of violence. Dr. King spoke of getting your message across in a non-violent way, and I’m a little bit disappointed that in this community of about 110,000 people, that we’re still seeing the level of violence that we see here. And with our small population, we really have a good opportunity to be change agents and be representative of what Dr. King spoke of.”

At the Budhoe Park where dignitaries spoke and performances were held, the audience looked on as various groups sang and danced, including a memorable performance by Music in Motion dancers, titled, “I’ve Been Buked” (above video).

The event’s keynote speaker, Brigadier General Deborah Howell, called VI residents trendsetters, and stressed the importance of education. She called on natives to be pioneers like their forefathers, and to raise a generation that would defend and advocate for justice. If you want to be heard you must be educated and be able to articulate your position, she said, adding that Dr. King was “an excellent orator.”

Elizabeth Centeno, District Director in the office of Rep. Stacey Plaskett, delivered remarks on behalf of the congresswoman, its central theme being the continued fight to see all U.S. citizens — including insular area residents — having the right to vote for the nation’s president.

The “I Have A Dream” speech was passionately recited by Pastor Jermaine Mulley. Territorial ADA Coordinator Jamilla Russell spoke on behalf of disabled residents, stating that their rights should be recognized and respected as well, and Senator Terrence Nelson encouraged people of color to pursue big dreams and seek higher learning, among other empowering rhetoric.

President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday — recognized on the third Monday in January — into law in 1983. It was first celebrated in the States three years later.

Dr. King, a Baptist minister, was killed on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. for his stance against racial injustice and inequality.