NAACP honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at annual breakfast

By: BRENDA DURAN - Staff Writer | Monday, January 16, 2006 9:21 PM PST ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be a "day on, not a day off" for people to continue to work toward social justice and equality. That was the message sent out by the North County San Diego NAACP Chapter to guests who attended the annual Community Prayer Breakfast in honor of King on Monday.

"It's time for us to wake up from the dream that Dr. King gave us," keynote guest speaker Pastor Anthony Frazier told guests at the tribute breakfast held at MiraCosta College. "Let us work that dream out."

More than 100 people attended the event, which is hosted each year by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The breakfast featured prayer, guest speakers, music and a slide show presentation of King, who catapulted to prominence during the 1950s and 60s civil rights movement, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

King's devotion to the promotion of equality for blacks and his stirring "I Have a Dream" speech, given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the massive 1963 March on Washington, were highlighted.

Guests also viewed a PowerPoint presentation titled "Martin Luther King: The Man, The Life, The Legend," which featured photos of the civil rights movement, quotes from King's speeches and scenes of his public appearances across the country before he was assassinated April 4, 1968.

In a brief speech following the presentation, Libby Lake Elementary student Crystal Board was given the opportunity to speak about what Martin Luther King Jr. means to her as a young black student.

"Dr. King to me was a symbol of bravery, courage, intelligence and overall brilliance. He's allowed me to have the dream of going to Harvard Law School to be a lawyer," Crystal told the audience, who gave her a standing ovation. "As a lawyer, I will make sure his dream continues to the next generation."

For guest Dorothy Harris, the event gave her time to reflect on the progress made in her own life as a black woman.

"I wouldn't have gotten as far I have if it wasn't for Martin Luther King," said Harris, a preschool teacher and an active community member in Oceanside. "I am not viewed as just a black woman anymore, but as a working member of my community who has rights."

Others, such as Mahalia Little who recalled growing up during the civil rights movement, said the breakfast made her reflect on what she believes still needs to be done in the black community to live up to King's words.

"We have gotten away from the process," said Little. "A lot of us still forget what it is all about. I don't see that much of a difference these days, we still have a lot of the same problems, just in different ways. There is a lot to be done still."

At the end of the breakfast, guests were urged by NAACP president Rob Howard to keepsake King's "I Have A Dream" speech in their lives and to take the day as a way to reflect on King's vision for the future.

Howard also challenged them to walk away with one final thought.

"Don't just talk about the dream," Howard said.

"Be the dream."

Contact Staff Writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@nctimes.com. To comment on this story go to www.nctimes.com.

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