“One Nation, One Dream: Justice for All.” That was the theme of the 7th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade and the 11th Annual Commemorative Program held Monday in Fayetteville. The event was sponsored by the Fayette County branch of the NAACP.
This year’s lengthy parade began at Fayette County High School then proceeded to Ga. Highway 85 and onto the Lafayette Education Center. Rev. Toney Mosley, senior pastor of Woods Memorial Baptist Church served as the parade’s grand marshal.
The commemorative event that followed was held at the LEC in the Sams Auditorium. The large auditorium was filled for the remembrance and celebration.
Headlining the commemorative event was an excerpt of “The Meeting,” a dramatic stage play about a meeting and conversation between Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
Actor, musician and clergyman Lamaio Bradwell portrayed Dr. King and actor, singer and writer Masud Olufani portrayed Malcolm X. The play’s producer and director, Kelvin Wade, introduced the players and set the stage for the meeting that displayed two men with opposing philosophical beliefs coming together and solving their differences in a non-violent manner.
The play will be presented Feb. 4-13 at the 14th Street Playhouse located at 173 14th Street in Atlanta. For more information call 404-733-5000 or visit www.14thstplayhouse.org.
The commemorative program also included musical selections by the Mt. Olive Church Gospel Choir, pre-program musical selections by the Sandy Creek High School Jazz Band and remarks by Fayette County NAACP President John Jones, Fayette County School System Superintendent Jeff Bearden and Fayette County Commissioner Steve Brown.
Rounding out the commemorative event were a wealth of recognitions and award presentations to numerous elementary, middle and high school students from around the county. Those receiving the awards and presentations included third-grade MLK Essay winners, middle school essay winners, third-grade attendance winners, middle school attendance winners, athletic excellence awards, MLK Academic Achievement awards and, from the larger group of commemoration attendees, the parade entry winners.
The 2011 MLK Academic Achievement Awards went to Fayette County High School seniors Omar A. Martinez-Uribe and Linsey Jackson, McIntosh High School seniors Kiana Beasely and Miles I. Bowen, Sandy Creek High School seniors Camara Carter and Tommy Harvey, Starr’s Mill High School seniors Elana Burton and Chase Park and Whitewater High School seniors Alricka Jackson and Edmund Smith.
