One of the most popular, indelible and soaring oratories in American history will be revived for the 23rd Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Monday at The Commons in downtown Columbus.
Charles Edwards, assistant principal of Columbus East High School, will use the classic 1963 speech from the late King during the historic March on Washington as the focus of his remarks near the close of the gathering that regularly has attracted some 300 people. The crowd normally includes city and county government leaders, heads of law enforcement and education, plus leaders in business, nonprofits, faith, and more.
“I’ll look mostly at what it means in the context of every day life today,” Edwards said. “And it will look at what our responsibility is toward fulfilling that dream.”
King’s message of hoped-for unity talked of people of various races and groups learning to live in harmony.
The local African American Pastors Alliance organizes the free, non-ticketed gathering open to all. It includes a complete breakfast. The theme for the gathering is “2020 Foresight: Education is the Key.”
Toward that end, the pastors’ group awards college scholarships to local high school seniors. The event also will include a community choir representing singers from various churches under the direction of local singer Abigail Jackson.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
