Bermuda Marks Martin Luther King Day
About 120 people gathered at St Paul AME Hall on Monday [Jan 19] to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
A spokesperson said, “Some 120 people gathered at St Paul AME Hall on Monday in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. This included students from Victor Scott Primary, Whitney Institute, Berkeley Institute, and the Bermuda Institute, and a host of adults from across the island, including two former members of the Progressive Group as well as Minister Alexa Lightbourne, Attorney General Kim Wilkerson, and President of the Senate Joan Dillas-Wright.
“The gathering was co-hosted by Nekesha Holdipp and Glenn Fubler, who pointed out that the theme for the occasion was ‘always learning’ – at our best, we recognize that we never know it all, an attitude exemplified by King.
“The opening prayer was delivered by Rev Jahkimmo Smith of Mount Zion AME, who is also a staff member at Whitney Institute.
“Rev Nicholas Tweed – St Paul AME’s Pastor – spoke on the mature King. He explained that the 26-year-old King was the newcomer to Montgomery when Rosa Parks sparked the boycott, who didn’t seek the leadership but was drafted, and the rest is history.
“The Pastor pointed out that the thousands of boycotters, including King, overcame a year of life-threatening challenges, leading to personal transformation. This maturation grew as the movement expanded across the country, such as student sit-ins.
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“King went on to learn from the likes of Muhammad Ali, who refused to serve in the U.S. military, and student leaders who saw the inequities of the economic system. MLK recognized that capitalism was built on slavery.
“By April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King delivered his seminal address in New York against the three pillars of evil: racism, militarism, and hyper materialism. His call for a revolution of values led to attacks by major media and even some of his friends. That media now sanitizes the essence of a hero, post-assassination.
“Those gathered were subsequently inspired by a compilation of spirituals from the Bermuda Institute Choir, accompanied and led by Owen Simons – Vice Principal of the school.
“Minister Alexa Lightbourne focused her presentation directly to the students, framing it in their language. She encouraged them to consider any concerns about their lives in the context of the legacy of people who have made some difference in their lives.
“She reminded them that Bermuda had a time when challenges were much greater than now, but that ordinary relatively young people brought about changes that benefit us today. The Minister encouraged students to play their part towards a better island.
“100-year-old Izola Harvey thanked the crowd for attending and shared how she recruited two Canadian visitors – friends of Betty Kawaley – who were holidaying in their family AirB&B, to purchase – clandestinely – a copying machine to make flyers for the boycott. She went on to report that on the night they were to secretly put up posters around the island, a volunteer didn’t show up. In spite of her being six months pregnant, she insisted on stepping into that role.
“Florence Maxwell encouraged attendees to promote the value of non-violence, something championed by King and the Progressive Group. She contended that those who are drawn to violence today are suffering from unaddressed trauma.
“As a part of MLK Day, we honoured 7-year-old Victor Scott student Landyn Simmons for reflecting aspects of the character of Martin Luther King. He exercised a degree of leadership; he was selected to be principal for a day and was so good that he served for two weeks. He subbed as PE teacher when the teacher was ill, and he exhibits a great sense of generosity and is always sharing with fellow students. He also plays for Boulevard Football and was awarded ‘goal of the season’ last season.
“He will be travelling to Ghana on a family trip and his priority is a day visit to an orphanage. He has learned to make paper mache and use it for all sorts of fun things that could help the children. Kaleidoscope has provided a scholarship for a school break camp in February, one of Landyn’s favourite activities.
“In closing, a few community-building champions who were responding to MLK’s call for the beloved community were highlighted. They included Bermuda Is Love, Chewstick Foundation, The Sloop Foundation, and LaGregg Smith, an activist at Devonshire Recreational Club, Associate Director of Seventh Day Adventist Youth Program, and small contractor who recruits marginalized youth.”
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