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Legacy Lives

Preparation turns into days of celebration of King’s legacy

<p>On Sunday during the 2020 MLK Legacy Awards, King’s Dance Workshop performs to “Glory.”&nbsp;</p>

On Sunday during the 2020 MLK Legacy Awards, King’s Dance Workshop performs to “Glory.” 

On Jan. 19 and 20, King held the 11th Annual MLK Legacy March: “The Dream & the Dean, The Legacy Lives.” This showcased civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream” and Congressman John Conyers Jr.’s activism to maintain the “dream.”

Staff and students spent many days and hours to prepare for this year’s two-day celebration.

“Some nights I was here until at least 1 a.m. The student volunteers needed supervision,” college transition adviser Tracy Jones said. “They also needed assistance with putting up the displays and making sure that what we put up in the building was accurate. I also assisted the students with preparing for their live exhibits.” 

The community came to King’s auditorium for Sunday’s program MLK Legacy Awards to honor those committed to the integrity and fight of King and Conyers by keeping the “dream” alive: Congressman John Lewis, Luther Keith of Arise Detroit, Barbara Busby of Detroit Repertory Theater, Lillie Skinner of Core City Neighborhood, Peaches Anderson of UAW, Ty Mopkins an International Designer and Brand Ambassador, and the late Congressman John Dingell. Roop Raj, news anchor, for FOX 2 was the master of ceremony.

“Thanks to the publicity from the media and the King Day reputation, many people came to elevate and commemorate Dr. King, John Conyers, and all those involved in the civil rights movement,” Principal Deborah Jenkins said. “The quality of the event and the educational experience it provides has caused it to become an annual community and family event where participants experience camaraderie as they engage in community service.” 

Students, parents, and staff were actors in the civil rights exhibits which taught important lessons in black history. Spectators brought their children so they could learn about their history from the events. 

“I brought him because it’s absolutely important to make sure we are passing bits of history and life lessons down to our young people because how else are they going to know who they are and where they came from if they don’t get to experience it,” parent and alumna Jalani Jackson said.

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