Ga. Highway 85 in Fayetteville Jan. 19 was the scene of the annual parade commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The annual program that followed featured Rep.Virgil Fludd (Dem.-District 64) as the keynote speaker.
The annual parade always features a wealth of citizens, local organizations, elected officials and, of course, a number of marching bands.
The theme of the event was “Still reaching for the dream.”
Following the parade, the heavily-attended commemorative program was held at the Fayette Education Center, with Fludd as the keynote speaker for the occasion.
The arrival of King on the world stage, and specifically his “I have a dream” speech, was a defining moment, Fludd said.
“It changed this country in a mighty way,” Fludd said.
Fludd expressed his gratitude for the many people who have built on King’s vision.
“We’ve done pretty well for ourselves (in Fayette County), but we’re still reaching for the dream,” said Fludd, noting that Fayette has the second highest high school graduation rate in Georgia and the black household income in Fayette County exceeds that of whites.
Pertaining to household income, the U.S. Census Bureau noted after the 2010 Census that Fayette’s black households have an income that exceeds that of white households by approximately $7,000. Behind Forsyth County, Fayette is arguably the second wealthiest county in the state in terms of income and home prices.
Fludd during his remarks recognized the various black elected officials in the audience, stating that “we have a lot to be proud of but we’re still reaching for the dream.”
Among the number of statistics Fludd mentioned was one that noted the unemployment rate of blacks was almost double that of whites.
Bringing the message back to King, Fludd said, “The changes happening in Fayette County are happening all across this great land. Despite his legacy, we’re still reaching for the dream and we must do all we can to uplift our communities. We’ve come a long way and there’s much to be done.”
Below, the annual MLK Day parade in Fayetteville. Photo/Ben Nelms.
