King Day ceremony in Bristol

By JACKIE MAJERUS
Press staff
BRISTOL – With song, dance, personal reflections and words of inspiration, a community celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day drew about 60 people to Memorial Boulevard School Monday.
"I am truly pleased," said Nicole Walker-Massari, president of the Bristol branch of the NAACP, which hosted the event. "We had a great time here."
Walker-Massari urged those who are not members of the NAACP to join the organization, which meets the second Thursday of the month in the Bristol Public Library.
"It's a matter of community," Walker-Massari said, adding that the $30 yearly membership costs about as much as a pair of shoes.
Speakers talked about gains made through the civil rights movement – and the hurdles still to clear.
"We all like to believe that we've taken great strides," said Mayor Art Ward. But he said, "We have a long, long way to go."
Ward said a look at the presidential race and the many questions of whether America is "ready" for a black president, a woman president or a Mormon president shows that people are still judging candidates on their skin color, gender and religion.
"The questions don't center on their ability to make decisions that ultimately affect the welfare of all of us," said Ward, or on the candidate's work or experience.
"It's quite obvious that we still do practice segregation in this country," Ward said. "Let us not become complacent in believing that our work is over. Mutual respect for all human beings will continue to be a work in progress. Mutual respect should be a goal for us all."
Bob Brown, who teaches at Tunxis Community College and initiated the school's African-American history class, talked about growing up in a Southern white family in the 1950s.
Some of his ancestors owned slaves, said Brown, who said it's not something he's proud of.
Brown called King "the greatest American in my lifetime."
While his family was "deeply sympathetic to the movement of social justice," Brown said he struggled to understand "the unfair advantage" that he enjoys as a white person.
"I have lived my life in a different place than my fellow citizens who are African American," said Brown.
The Rev. Stanley Kemmerer of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol recalled being among the "hordes" of people in Washington, D.C. in August 1963 when King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.
"It was as hot as today is cold," said Kemmerer, who said the experience put him "at the epicenter of history" and changed him forever, for the good.
Girls from the Mt. Zion Dance Ministry in Bristol offered a spiritual dance during the program, and young women from Grace Apostolic Church in Terryville got heads bobbing and hands clapping with their songs.
Kevin Barnett read King's "I Have A Dream" speech.
The celebration commemorating King was in jeopardy earlier this month when city usage rules required an insurance policy that the tiny organization couldn't afford.
Initially, school Superintendent Phil Streifer and the mayor offered to personally share the cost, which was about $100. But then an anonymous donor sent in the necessary funds, and Streifer and Ward's offer was no longer needed.
Walker-Massari thanked them for their willingness to cover the insurance fees, and also recognized city Councilor Craig Minor and his wife, Laura Minor, who are NAACP members, for helping to organize the celebration.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com