On the morning of Monday, January 20, South Suburban College (SSC) held its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in its Kindig Performing Arts Center. SSC faculty and staff joined local elected officials, high school students, and residents to honor the legacy and vision of Dr. King. The celebration consisted of a series of moving musical performances and rousing speeches. The theme of this year’s celebration was “The Dream Continues.”
The District 205 Choir and Combined District 205 High School Bands kicked off the celebration with stirring renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem. Reverend Dr. Ozzie E. Smith Jr., pastor emeritus of Covenant United Church of Christ, accompanied Simbryt Dortch on the soprano saxophone as she performed Dr. King’s favorite song: “Precious Lord.” Mahalia Jackson would sing this song to Dr. King when they spoke on the phone and even sang it at his funeral in 1968.
Pastor of University Church Julian “J.Kwest” DeShazier, the celebration’s keynote speaker, shared some reflections on how Dr. King’s teachings apply in the modern context.
“King’s image has been softened by the public,” DeShazier said. “However, he was a radical and, as the great Charlie Murphy used to say, a ‘habitual line-stepper.’ King was also a fence-crasher. He did not respect evil when it was veiled in the guise of ordinary laws and he did not respect customs that denigrated our citizens or our dignity as the children of God. If there’s anything that we ought to remember while we are celebrating him, it is that some fences in this day and age need crashing into. Each of us needs to do something with what we have today so that the future will have a little bit more than we do.”
The celebration also featured a performance of “Give Me Jesus” by the SSC Voices and a rendition of “I Smile” by the District 205 Choir. The Bourné Family shared their musical talents with the audience and the Thomas Singers got the attendees clapping and dancing with a Gospel Medley.
15th District Illinois State Senator and Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman Napoleon Harris III, one of the speakers at the celebration, emphasized the important role that community plays in the quest for justice and equality that Dr. King championed.
“It is the responsibility of elected officials to uplift our communities,” Harris said. “Looking around, you can see that we are building community. This community is about togetherness and supporting your neighbors. Dr. King had a dream, so let’s all formulate our own dream that one day, our communities will all move forward as one. Imagine the power of that. I'm so humbled and thankful that I can be here today to share in the life and legacy of Dr. King.”
In recognition of National Day of Service, the Top Ladies of Distinction and SSC’s chapter of the Top Teens of America presented the college with a large donation of canned and dry foods to benefit community members in need. Upon the celebration’s completion, attendees were invited to look at the gallery of photos taken during Dr. King’s visit to Chicago in 1966.
Thornton Township High School District 205 Superintendent Dr. Nathaniel Cunningham Jr., another speaker at the celebration, expressed his hope for the brighter future that Dr. King envisioned.
“This annual event is a cornerstone of our community,” Cunningham said. “I am inspired by the extraordinary performances, contributions, and spirit of collaboration that make this occasion so special. Doctor King was a champion of justice, a visionary for equality and an unwavering advocate for peace. He believed that the fight of the blessings was not a solitary but an electric journey, a journey that requires assistance, courage and a genuine and a possibility of change. The theme of this year’s celebration, ‘The Dream Continues,’ is a powerful reminder that Dr. King's dream did not end with him. May we always hear his lessons in our hearts.”
To stay up-to-date on South Suburban College’s upcoming events and learn more about enrollment at South Suburban College, please visit ssc.edu.
