By Jessica Edwards
Residents remembered the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by reading
his words, singing spirituals, and sharing personal experiences of activism during a
program Monday evening at Haines Borough Public Library.
A display in the Sheldon Museum’s Hakkinen Gallery honoring King
and Alaska Native civil rights advocate Elizabeth Peratrovich runs through Feb. 17.
Nearly 40 residents, including half a dozen children, turned out to
celebrate King’s life and message at an observance sponsored by the Baha’is.
Mike Case emceed.
The Men of Note, joined by Holly Davis and Margaret Plucker, performed
spirituals. Case read excerpts from "Beyond Vietnam," a lesser-known speech
given by King in 1967.
Don Poling, who attended Duke University the year it was integrated,
said he attended a rally in Ohio at which King looked out into a diverse, international
crowd and said, "We have overcome today," changing the words of the civil rights
anthem "We Shall Overcome" to reflect the moment.
Georgia Haisler relayed a story from Mayor Fred Shields about meeting
and shaking hands with King as a high school student.
Case, who grew up in Vermont, said first he gained an understanding of
racial inequality as a young serviceman 60 years ago. He took a trip from Mississippi to
Washington, D.C. and inadvertently sat in the black section of a segregated bus.
Shelly Webb read to the audience from "Martin’s Big
Words," a children’s book about King’s life by Doreen Rappaport.
Emphasizing King’s part in the civil rights movement, the book focuses on his
commitment to peace, love, and equality in the face of violent oppression. Rappaport does
not gloss over King’s murder.
Sara Chapell attended with son Dillon, who had read the book with his
kindergarten class earlier that day. Chapell said the story had a profound effect on
students, and caused one child to cry.
"At first, I thought, ‘This isn’t the right age to bring
this up,’" said Chapell. "We’d never talked about it before. I thought
it was too big."
But Chapell said she changed her mind after considering King’s
message, and said sharing and acceptance are crucial issues for kindergartners. "He
reminded us to love each other; he’s given us this gift."
Kathleen Menke said King’s message of unity remained relevant, and
his legacy is evidenced by presidential candidacies of an African-American and a woman.
But, she said, these issues had been replaced by deepening political
and religious divisions, as well as a schism pitting economics against environmental
conservation.
"Now, the hope and dream is bringing unity on those kinds of
issues," Menke said. "We need hope and leadership moving us past the divisions.
We all need to come together."
