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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrated with service in Sikeston
SIKESTON, Mo. —A special celebration recognizing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and encouraging citizens to “Keep Moving Forward” was held Monday, Jan. 15 in Sikeston.
Sikeston’s MLK Day Committee hosted its 38th annual commemoration concert at Green Memorial Church of God in Christ, where a prayer and the hymn, ”God Bless America,” were performed by the congregation to open the program.
The celebration featured a keynote speaker, an essay reading, local community member speakers, singing, music, presentations and more.
Event Organizer Michael K. Harris Sr., commended those present for attending despite the snowy and cold weather.
Sikeston City Council member Onethia Williams served as master of ceremonies for the occasion. She presented Sikeston Mayor Greg Turnbow as the city’s representative for the occasion.
Turnbow welcomed everyone to the event and provided an update on all that is happening in Sikeston.
Turnbow mentioned the ongoing building of the new overpass over Route 60, which in a few years will become Interstate 57. In addition, he said the city is in the process of working with developers to acquire certain residential housing and commercial property, which will also result in the creation of jobs.
Turnbow added that a grant had been awarded to Grace Community Center in order to establish a community center in Lincoln Park.
“It’s going to be a community center for after-school programs, daycare, sports activities. They’re also going to coordinate some things with the YMCA,” Turnbow said. “That is going to be a great community center when that gets built.
He continued: “There were two preachers who came together and decided to do this, what better group to have your kid in an after school program and daycare than people in the ministry.”
Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Shannon Holifield also made a contribution to the ceremony. She discussed the challenges faced by those in the education sector, but despite these setbacks, Sikeston Public Schools continues to always be positive, she said.
“We have some great people who walk across our thresholds every day, starting with our bus drivers, our custodial staff, our teachers and our administration,” Holifield said. “Again, I just can’t say enough about this community. I have said this over and over: There is no community like Sikeston.”
Dr. Maude Harris of Sikeston, keynote speaker from Scottt County’s University of Missouri Extension, addressed the crowd.
Harris began by reading from Exodus 14:10–15, which is where the inspiration for this year’s theme, “Keep Moving Forward,” originated.
Harris emphasized how the Israelites were being oppressed, and the Lord had commanded Moses to tell them to “move forward” and to raise his staff in order to part the sea.
“With this being King day, I wanted to see how this could relate to the civil rights movement,” Harris said.
Harris discussed the history of segregation, slavery and Jim Crow laws, which required public restrooms, dining establishments, drinking fountains, transportation and schools to be kept separate from black and white areas.
According to Harris, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and other activists recognized the injustice of Jim Crow laws and made the decision to “keep moving forward.”
“We could not stop at certain gas stations and could not try on clothing in a department store,” Harris said. “These are things that we are taking for granted, but, thank God, someone moved forward.”