Connecting King's legacy to Obama's win
With the historic election of Barack Obama as America's first black president, Martin Luther King Jr's life and legacy is more relevant than ever, said Dorothy Brandon, the city's staff liaison to the human relations commission.
Locally, officials will soon name Elgin's portion of Route 20 after the slain civil rights leader.
Moreover, just days before Obama takes the oath of office, Elgin will celebrate King, whose actions arguably paved the way for Obama's ascendancy.
"I always felt that one day a black man would be president, but I never thought it would happen in my lifetime," said Human Relations Commission Member Ina Dews, 71, who still remembers drinking water from "colored" fountains in segregated Texas. "I've witnessed something in 2008 that I never thought that I would live to witness. Now that's for real."
In addition, Obama's historic win and upcoming swearing-in gives officials the perfect way to introduce King's teachings to the youth, Brandon said.
"We just see it as a segue into Dr. King's dream," Brandon said. "He dreamed that someday everyone would have that opportunity, so we're seeing that opportunity within a couple of days within his birthday, with the inauguration of our first African-American president."
The theme to Elgin's annual event, now in its 24th year, is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! Dare to Dream."
The celebration begins Saturday with an 8:30 a.m. prayer breakfast at Elgin Community College's business conference center. Tickets cost $10 and are available at Elgin City Hall.
Gerri Crider, a former teacher and principal within Elgin Area School District U-46, is the guest speaker and she will talk about continuing King's dream, said W.E. Scott, chairman of the human relations commission, who also is chairing the breakfast.
The free, public celebration of King commences at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hemmens Cultural Center.
The ceremony includes a retrospective on black leaders dating back to Harriet Tubman, the ex-slave who led escaped slaves to freedom, to Obama - the Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, pastor at Second Baptist Church in Elgin, will be leading that discussion.
As well, the commission will hand out scholarship awards to high school seniors and announce the winners of a children's' essay and art contest in keeping with this year's theme, said Dews, chair of the public ceremony.
Music performances also are included, with Shirley Roberts, a soloist and minister Second Baptist, and singers from a choir that represents local churches.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Kenneth Board, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Rockford.
Scott says one thing attendees should remember is King's message and Obama's triumph are all inclusive.
"I think it just reinforces that anything is possible," Scott said of Obama's victory.
"The one thing I don't like to see is a lot of folks embracing that it's a win for African Americans. I think it just really is a win for all America."
• McHenry County College will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. from noon to 2 p.m. with a presentation by Vincent Gaddis, a scholar, author and associate professor at Benedictine University. Gaddis, pastor of New Generation Christian Center, a multiracial congregation in Aurora, will be discussing, "Revolution in values: why we must embrace Martin Luther King's call for the beloved community." The talk is free, open to the public and there will be light refreshments available. For information, call Talia Koronkiewicz at (815) 455-8772.