Martin Luther King Day

At the bookstall
At the bookstall
'We shall overcome'
'We shall overcome'

Story: Michelle Cook

Photos: Lisa Swift

On the 19th January, young and old people from all over Burngreave gathered at the Welcome Centre, Nottingham St. for the 5th annual celebration in rememberance of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. This year, as it was on the eve of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first black President of the USA, it was a very special celebration.

The evening began with children from the Ellesmere Youth Project entertaining us with an energetic contemporary dance perfomance. SADACCA Ladies' Group read poetry. We all shared a delicious hot and cold buffet whilst perusing the bookstall and the mural which the children had designed.

People then stood up to relate their thoughts and feelings on this special night. Rev. Jonathan Gichaam said "We are on the threshold of history," and "Obama's election brings hope to the oppressed people of the world." Another resident Artemus Robinson said, "I can't express...I feel so good. The dream has come true." Others spoke of their delight that what had seemed impossible had happened in their lifetime.

SADACCA Ladies' Group then led us in a sing-along, culminating in a powerful and emotional rendition of the gospel-based civil rights song, "We Shall Overcome", a reflection that we had all come together to celebrate the lives of those who had fought and died in the struggle for black civil rights in America and whose vision has finally come true.

Logged in users of the website can add comments to this page.
Login to this site if you'd like to add a comment. Sign-up for an account if you are not currently a member.

<< | Up | >>

Print version

The content on this page was added to the website by Chris Blythe on 2009-02-01 21:57:01.
The content of the page was last modified by Jamie Marriott on 2009-02-02 11:52:15.

Follow us on Twitter @TheBMessenger

All content is copyright © Burngreave Messenger Ltd. or its voluntary contributors, unless otherwise stated, not to be reproduced without permission. If you have any comments, or are interested in contributing to the Messenger and getting involved, please contact us.

Burngreave Messenger Ltd. Abbeyfield Park House, Abbeyfield Road, Sheffield S4 7AT.
Telephone: 0114 242 0564. Email: mail@burngreavemessenger.org
Company Limited by Guarantee: 04642734
Registered Charity: 1130836

The Burngreave Messenger is a community newspaper with editorial independence, funded by the Big Lottery, Foyle Foundation, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Scurrah Wainwright Charity, local residents and our advertisers.

Help the Messenger with a donation