Martin Luther King Day

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.