Source: Odessa American, TexasJan.迷利倉 18--The Rev. Roger McNeil said he takes great pride in celebrating Martin Luther King Day not because of King's message, but because of the history -- history he himself got to witness firsthand.As a child, McNeil said he and his family participated in sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement at the H. L. Green -- a five and dime chain store that includes a department store and restaurant -- in downtown Dallas. Other times, McNeil said he got to attend meetings with his father, some of which included King himself."I had a chance to be in meetings with Dr. King along with my father because he was a minister as well," MeNeil said. "It was exciting."Now a pastor himself at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, McNeil will be leading a male chorus during Sunday's Gospel Celebration of King's birthday celebration.King's birthday, Jan. 15, was made a federal holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Regan. Typically, the holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January.Though McNeil and his church's chorus have participated in celebrating the holiday before, McNeil added that it's important to take time to remember the work King did."I feel whatever I can contribute today will continue his movement," McNeil said about King's message of equality thought nonviolence. "It's just a blessing to be able to have a group come and share and maybe inspire."This year's celebration, put on by the Black Cultural Council of Odessa, will include a gospel service, scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, as well as a breakfast at 6 a.m. Monday followed by the annual march, which starts at noon by the Sal Guerrero Southside Senior Citizens Center.Besides the three scheduled choruses during Sunday's scheduled gospel service, BCCO member Laverne Love said much about the celebration has changed. However, that doesn't mean that people are ign迷你倉ring the council's work."Our march has gotten stronger through the years," Love said. "We're looking forward to it."Also scheduled to speak Monday are two people Love knows personally: one, her grandson Christian Love; and the second, Rev. Anthony Miller from Dallas.Miller, who is scheduled to speak at the King Breakfast, is originally from Odessa and Love said she taught him English when she was teaching school at Bowie Junior High School; adding said she was also his choir teacher at one point in his life."I'm glad he's speaking," Love said. "It's like I'm a nobody, but I've taught a lot of some bodies."For Jo Ann Davenport Littleton, president of the BCCO, she said one of the main things that the group has tried to do was incorporate younger generations into the celebration."Each year, we strive to be inclusive," Littleton said. "By including them in our rally; that gives us the time to showcase the talented young people have in our community."A new event scheduled for Monday will be a declamation event at the Ector County Courthouse of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.Art Leal, of Una Voz Unida, said Gene Collins of the Odessa branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, will read the speech. Odel Crawford of the Odessa Black Chamber of Commerce is also scheduled to re-enact a speech by Civil Rights leader Philip Randolph."He (King) represents everyone when it comes to social justice and equal rights," Leal said about the event. "I think it's important we all recognize Martin Luther King and what he contributed to this country."--Contact Nathaniel Miller on twitter at @OAgovernment, on Facebook at OA Nathaniel Miller or call 432-333-7769Copyright: ___ (c)2014 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at .oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉
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