The five-day celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. wrapped up Monday morning with the annual march and program, where partipants celebrated and reflected on King’s impact.
After particpants marched from the Department of Social Services in Wadesboro to Harvest Ministries Outreach Center, the annual Celebratory Service was opened up by moderators Kevin Adams and Quatavis Liles.
“We are so glad and honored to be here to celebrate the life of, whom I consider to be the greatest American in the history of the United States,” Adams said. “We live in Dr. King’s world. Without him, we could not be here in Wadesboro, North Carolina, in 2019, so I’m proud to be here.”
During the celebration, songs such as a congregational “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the Comunity Male Choir’s rendition of the “Battle Hymn of Republic” had attendees on their feet.
“Dr. King said that in order for us to move forward, we have to look back to see where we came from,” said Judge Weaver Thomas, a member of the Community Male Choir.
Students Shymari Robinson and Haley Adams gave welcoming remarks.
”Today is the day to honor the life and legacy of a great man, who lived to pave the way for change and equality in our society,” Haley Adams said.
Robinson said MLK Day celebrates and honors a man that everyone can look up to, a man who led the civil rights movement in the 1960s. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill making it a national holiday.
“On that day, King’s wife stated that this wasn’t just a day for black people, but a day for all people; celebrating life of all people,” she added. “It isn’t a day off; it’s a day on. We honor what he did for us and we are glad that we can all be in here together.”
Kevin Adams said that he took his daughters to King’s memorial in Atlanta.
“King was a Christian, and the anointing that is on that place, King’s memorial, and what he called us all to do; because the black experience is the American experience,” he said. “I’m not black, but I am a history teacher, and I can tell you that throughout history, African-Americans have been a part of everything of justice and movement in America.”
Kevin Adams, along with parents and brother, came to Anson in 1995 and did not know at the time they were coming into a church where some of the members were former Klansmen.
“Little did they know, their pastor was going to intergrate that church, whether they wanted them to or not,” he added. “I’m proud to be part of a congrgation, and a group of people and parents, who believed in the call of reaching equality.”
He also said Harvest Ministries would not exist had it not been for people willing to come, for people of all colors being willing to come to a church with a white pastor.
“I’m honored to be a part of that legacy, this church, and what we stand for in terms of all people being willing to come and be a part of our experience,” Adams said. “The dream for everyone, and for a long time, African-Americans had been excluded from the same rights that white people had in the United States.”
Anson High School football coach Ralph Jackson greeted attendees with four things he learned from the life and legacy of King. King was assassinated about 10 years before Jackson was born, but Jackson said he’s learned that King was a uniter, serviceman and he was about people helping people.
“It wasn’t about who you were or what you had, but what was in your heart,” Jackson said.
Jackson said King’s work will never be completed because as time had progressed, people have forgot about the price paid. He added that the youth of today don’t know about the price paid for them to walk down the street, or sit at someone’s restaurant, and they could not have survived during those times.
“In that pursuit of happiness, we’ve forgotten our way,” Jackson said. “He didn’t just touch black people, but he touched all people. We don’t remember how important people are to people.”
The Anson County mayors also greeted the crowd with local historical facts.
Elected officials were asked to join Kevin Adams at the front of the church to be recognized. Officials included county commissioners Vancine Sturdivant and Lawrence Gatewood, and Anson’s first black sheriff, Landric Reid.
Anson County youth also had a hand in the celebration, including football players, who directed traffic, debutants and future debutants that sang “I Am Free,” while the “I Have a Dream” speech was read. Silent Grace, a mime team, also peformed during the presentation.
Harvest Ministries Outreach Center Founder Apostle Tim Adams and Steve Adams greet participants before celebrations begin Monday at the MLK Day event in Wadesboro.
The Community Praise Dance Team was a part of the MLK Day activities in Wadesboro.
Silent Grace Mime Team performs in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..