Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew exactly how to lift thousands to their feet for equality and peace.
If he was alive Sunday, he would have seen the same reactions during a powerful birthday celebration thrown in his honor at New Zion Baptist Church.
"Understand, Dr. Martin Luther King is not a day," said keynote speaker Anthony Pollard, who serves as youth minister for Olivet Baptist Church. "He is not a day off of work; he is not a holiday. He is a constant reminder of the desires of God's heart to liberate the oppressed and set the captives free."
Events today* 4 p.m. - Memorial March and Parade, M.L. King Boulevard* 5 p.m. - Speaker at the Tivoli Theatre: Dr. Bob Zellner, author of "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek"Message of hopeKing holiday recalls hero of civil rightsOnline: Hear a performance from the Olivet Baptist Church choir during the celebration. Read previous stories. Comment.
Seven downtown Chattanooga churches came together to remember the achievements of one of America's most influential civil rights leaders. The focus centered on how to apply Dr. King's lessons to the hard times faced by new generations nearly 42 years removed from his assassination.
"I feel it's a powerful message much needed by our young children and teenagers," said Stephanie Hinton, a member of Second Missionary Baptist Church. "They sometimes forget there is hope and that they don't have to choose what their peers are doing. There's a right way to do things, and there are rewards for those who do the right thing."
As a choir dressed in purple robes harmonized, a few hundred churchgoers swayed to the songs and offered prayers thanking God for Dr. King. The celebration took place two days after what would have been his 82nd birthday.
"His voice was one that was prophetic," Mr. Pollard said. "He would speak with tears in his eyes because he understood he was being hated because of the message God had given him to speak. He spoke with boldness in a time when he knew that everybody wasn't going to be pleased with the message that he had to say."
A children's dance troupe provided visual interpretations of civil rights victories over the years, and several teenagers filled other posts normally handled by adults. According to organizers, the purpose was promoting youthful involvement in an ongoing struggle for equality in an unjust world.
"Those kids who are trying to do the right thing are often ridiculed," Ms. Hinton said. "These are difficult times for children and especially their parents, who are losing their jobs daily. Those of us who are older have seen difficult times, but there's always resilience. We have to be tenacious."