Following a quarter-mile march from Freedom Elementary to Hopkinsville Community College’s Riley Lecture Hall, noted dignitaries, worship leaders and a collection of Christian County’s inspired African American youths presented a powerful, passionate celebration Monday morning — embracing the life, legacy and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, April 4, 1968, the civil rights leader’s stirring words remain entrenched to this day.
Fittingly, they were frequently echoed — first by a pair of Men2Be students in Christian County High School sophomore Antonio Catlett and Hopkinsville High School sophomore Dekerrieon Whitlock.
The duo shared a small excerpt of King’s “What’s Your Life Blueprint?” essay, which was first uttered October 26, 1967, to a classroom full of young learners in Philadelphia.
A panel discussion with seven student representatives combined from Men2Be and Lipstick After Dark was led by HCC’s Joe Leavell, in which he prompted the high schoolers to share their own experiences and beliefs about social justice and racial equity.
Ty’Jarriah Johnson, lone senior panelist and CCHS representative for the CCPS Board of Education, said King would be mostly pleased with the gains and efforts made since the late 1960s, in the quest for balanced and fair justice.
But, she added, there’s still a long way to go.
Asked why King’s words were still relevant, Catlett brought one hard, simple fact to the microphone.
Paulette Robinson was able to unveil a skit she’d scripted for the first time to the public — one that wrapped around the deep details surrounding the 1963 letters from Dr. King while incarcerated in Birmingham Jail.
It was called “Don’t Forget to Remember.”
In the skit, Pastor Vice Killebrew — channeling King’s own written words from that historic cell — painted a sinister snapshot of how the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s looked for colored men and women in America.
Of the 300 or so people who marched in Hopkinsville Monday morning, more than 180 of them were either students or affiliated with the Christian County Public Schools.
Christian County Middle School had the most marchers, with 37.
Full program:
Full panel discussion:
(Spirit of Total Praise) Dance Group, Foston Chapel Baptist Church Interpretive Dance
MLK March To HCC
