King honored in celebration of diversities
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    A multicultural festival in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday emphasized diversity in Arlington as well as the nation.

   Twenty flags, representing 20 nations, hung overhead as a welcome to Tarrant County residents and local African American business owners at SE Campus’ multicultural festival recently. The festival was part of a four-day celebration throughout Arlington remembering King’s legacy.

   “The purpose of this festival is to see all types of nationalities come together because that is what Dr. King would have wanted. He did not want it to be just a black thing, a white thing or a Hispanic thing,” Cedric Bailey, festival emcee and Heaven 97 radio personality, said.

   Americans of several ethnicities colored the festival with cultural dances and songs. Performances reflected the world from Arlington to India.

   Local politicians Elzie Odom, mayor of Arlington, and Martin Frost, democratic congressional representative, also attended the festival.

   Frost recalled King’s visit to Fort Worth in 1959 as a youth.

   “Our society was so different, regarding racial tolerance, and we should not forget how much we owe Dr. King for changing us and making us a better country,” he said.

   “However, we see that even today his dream of unity is unfinished just like this picture. There is a little more work yet to be done,” he said, referring to the emblem selected to represent Arlington’s Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) celebration.

   The picture, drawn by Ryan Wayne of Lamar High School, depicts faceless people painting the words “Share the Dream” in red, white and blue and the necessary work to finish “the dream” still in progress.

   Bailey concurred.

   “We have come a long way. We must not let the dream die. Keep the spirit alive,” he said.

   Odom offered a personal experience.

   “A few weeks ago I had the occasion to attend a worship service at a newly renovated Chinese church in the city. I saw something I have never seen before. The congregation had a monitor on one side of the room in Chinese and one on the other side in English with the words to the song How Great Thou Art. First, they sang it in English; then they sang it in Chinese. Afterwards, we sang it all together in both languages. And it sounded beautiful,” he said.

   “It made me think about how it makes no sense that we spend so much time examining and evaluating our differences when actually we have so much in common. We are a diverse city. We should celebrate that diversity,” he said.

   The festival began with God Bless America, sung by Sue Phillips, and followed with two songs performed by The Voices of the Christ Choir, directed by Michael Meadows. The Christ Choir sang hymns to piano and drum accompaniment.

   Mariachi De Oro, consisting of two trumpet players and six different string instruments, performed two songs by themselves, before being joined by singer Lisa Ramirez for two more.

   Berea Baptist Church Drill Team, directed by Joey and Clemmence Haley, also performed, followed by the Chinese Four Seasons Choir.

   SE TCC’s singers, directed by Marion Nesvadba, continued the festival with three songs.

   Indian folk dancers, Krishna and Siddhartha Patel, performed a traditional dance.

   They were followed by Ballet Folklorico Mexicano—Amor a Nuestra Cultura (Love of Our Culture), a Mexican folk-dancing group of children directed by Lupe Adel Castillo.

   The festival concluded with a performance by Ayuba Kamau—Sacred African Drum and Dance Society. Their entourage of multiple percussionists had the audience clapping along as the men drummed and the women danced.

   Led by Charles Harris, Ayuba Kamau also participated in a spoken presentation.

   “Dr. King was so committed to his cause he was willing to die for it. My question to you is, what are you willing to live for?” Harris said.

   “Take the time to learn and study the culture you were given. Everyone’s culture has a special place … when you learn about your own culture, then we can truly enjoy multicultural programs like this one,” he said

   Bailey and Dr. Robert Bing, Arlington’s MLK celebration organizer, closed the event.

   “When you succeed in the world today, don’t kick the ladder you climbed down. Help someone else make it too and preserve the spirit of Dr. King,” Bailey said.

   Bing offered his advice.

   “Remember it was through peaceful protest and non-violence that he (MLK) challenged the minds of America,” he said.

   Shayna Houp, stage manager, A.J. Adams and David Vieira, crew, participated in organizing the festival, as well as SE Phi Theta Kappa, SE Student Ambassadors and Dr. Judith Carrier, SE Campus president.

   Albertson’s and Spring Creek Bar-B-Q provided food following the performances.