Special week will

focus on King’s dream
By Tiffany Allison

The third Monday in January marks the birth of a man who sacrificed his life for his dream of peace. Labeled one of the best orators in the world, Martin Luther King Jr. preached the value of unity.

Within his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, King profoundly addressed the people of Washington about the pressing matter of unity among brotherhoods, both black and white. Within his speech, he said the following:
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.”

King, a civil-rights icon, opened this nation’s eyes to see the “invisible” racial divide between blacks and whites. He accomplished his vision not by acts of violence and manipulation, but through non-violent protests. King based his non-violent strategy on Mahatma Gandhi’s success with non-violent political activism.

In honor of King, the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock have proclaimed Sunday, Jan. 18, to Saturday, Jan. 25, as “I Have a Dream Week.” A task force was formed by members of the community who felt a calling to teach people within the community about racial and cultural diversity.

Each day of the week features a highlighted activity that community members have formed to address the history and values that King fought to instill.

Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is holding an MLK celebration on Sunday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. For more information, call (828) 264-4456.

Appalachian State University’s ACT (Appalachian and the Community Together) program teamed up with University Highlands and the N.C. Carolina Campus Compact to form the 10th annual MLK Challenge Monday, Jan. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Coincidentally, Martin Luther King Day falls the day before the inauguration of the first black president of the United States.

Kate Johnson, the assistant director for community service, said the idea behind the program is simple. It is an outlet for students to experience working together to give back to the community.

“Essentially about 200 students come to Legends on-campus, and we split them into groups and they are given a mystery challenge,” she said. “The challenges range from river clean ups to painting murals.”

Every team is assisted by a site leader, who is either staff faculty or in the graduate program. The goal is to accomplish the challenge before the end of the day. In the past nine years, there has not been a challenge that has been left incomplete before the end of the day.

The 12th annual Musical Unity Service will also be held on Monday at Mabel Methodist Church. Audrey and Sam Tate will be sharing personal stories of what it was like growing up in the segregated South and the Underground Railroad. Pastor Morris Hatton will direct the music which will be a collection of African-American songs. Desserts will proceed the event. For more information, call (828) 297-3568.

ASU’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration will feature retired Lt. Colonel John Slade, who is speaking at Farthing Auditorium Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. Slade was one of the founders of the African-American Phi Theta Fraternity established in 1963.

In a related celebration concerning diversity and multicuturalism, the Watauga County Library will have open craft tables for children of all ages in celebration of the Chinese New Year from Jan. 20-24. For more information concerning the tables, call the Watauga County Library at (828) 264-884.

The Young World Radio Show will play its children’s radio tribute to King, “I Have a Dream,” on Saturday, Jan. 24 on WATA-AM 1450 and on WXIT-AM 1200.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is dedicating a dance to the dream entitled Dances of Universal Peace. The dance begins at 7:30 p.m. and a $5 donation is suggested. For more information, call (828) 264-1384.

Mennonite Brethen Church is hosting its “Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. For more information, call (828) 263-0520.

The I Have a Dream task force formed in 1998 in response to the marching of the Ku Klux Klan through the streets of Boone and Blowing Rock on Easter Sunday in 1992. The task force saw a need within the community to understand that racial diversity should not but feared, but rather welcomed and enjoyed within the Watauga County community.

Their goal is to infiltrate the community and schools with projects that focus on diversity. Tracey and Tommy Wright, members of the task force, launched an essay contest within Watauga County schools focusing on the importance of King’s principal values. Kathryn Crepeau created a bibliography for teachers to draw information about King and apply that information to projects for the students.

An “I Have a Dream Kit,” containing hands on activities for children, was created by artists and has been sent within the school systems’ after-school program.

The projects promote tolerance and explore racial and cultural diversity.