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Community Corner

Community Remembers MLK Jr. Legacy at Annual Breakfast

Awardees recognized for efforts toward achieving Dr. King's vision.

Community leaders, government and college officials, local volunteers and citizens dined together this morning in a spirit of unity at Anne Arundel Community College’s 30th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast.

Before the event began, guests were treated to inspirational songs by the All Children's Chorus of Annapolis and the Living Waters Worship Center Choir.

Julieanna Richardson, founder and executive director of the HistoryMakers, a national African American archival project, spoke on the importance of teaching tolerance in our country, even today, more than 40 years after King’s death.

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What has our society been reduced to, she asked, "when people are stopped on the street to see their immigration papers?"

“We as a nation must undergo a radical evolution of values,” said Richardson. “We can no longer sit back and see our communities and our children in a free-fall decline because we want our children to count in this global economy.”

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What would Martin Luther King think? Richardson surmised that he would be delighted at black people in authority, yet he would be disheartened at the state of the schools and the prisons.

A solemn tone permeated throughout the crowd as everyone remembered the man whose legacy will not be forgotten.

Event Chairman Carl Snowden compared King’s death to the Tucson, Arizona tragedy.

“What haunts me is the senseless deaths,” he said.

Daryl Jones, Anne Arundel County Council, District 1, reminded guests that hate-related crimes are not new to this country. Jones related the story of the Little Rock Nine, a small group of gifted students in Arkansas in 1957 who were bused in an effort to integrate a white school.

However, the students were prevented from entering. Jones explained how a girl’s dress had to be wrung out from spit when she returned home.

“This is a time of political discord,” Jones contended. “We know as a council there is struggling in our community today. People are hurting. As a council, we stand united to overcome hateful speech."

"Brighter days are ahead to emerge stronger, more united, and caring than ever before. We believe in our hearts we shall overcome the difficulties to help our fellow man to do good.”

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler advocated changing the way judges are elected in order to ensure a more diverse workforce.

“We have an African American president, but we have more to do,” he said.

Snowden added the best way to keep King’s memory active is to honor his legacy.

“Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something,” professed Snowden.

Jaqueline Allsup, president, Anne Arundel County branch, NAACP, challenged the crowd to work together in the fields of health, education and interfaith to impact people of color.

“Martin Luther King said that the measure of a man is where he stands in controversy,” stated Allsup. “Where do you stand?”

At the end of the breakfast, community members received awards for working hard in their community to help achieve the goals of Dr. King. 

Award recipients, organization, and community contests included:

  • Rev. Zina Pierre, Human Relations Commission, City of Annapolis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award. Pierre was the first African American to receive the Democratic primary nomination for mayor of Annapolis.
  • Carl Brooks, Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission, Dallas G. Pace Sr. Humanitarian Award. Brooks was recognized for his efforts on behalf of the Cedar Hill Improvement Association in Glen Burnie.
  • Kathleen Nieberding Temprine, Anne Arundel Coalition of Tenants, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. Co-founder of the Annapolis Community Foundation, she is also the director of development for Leadership Anne Arundel.
  • Janice Watley, Anne Arundel Community College Black Student Union, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Zeitgeist Award. She was recognized for her efforts in mentoring and assisting underperforming students who enter college unprepared.
  • Abraham Shanklin Jr., Senior/Founding Pastor, United Christian Clergy Alliance of Anne Arundel County, Leon H. White Clergy Memorial Award. He is the founder of Solid Rock Community Development Corp., and an officer for the United Christian Clergy Alliance, which crosses church affiliation and racial lines for community unity causes.
  • Carl Snowden, Anne Arundel County NAACP, George H. Phelps Jr. Distinguished Public Service Award. A longtime African American leader in the county, he founded this breakfast and worked to build the King monument on the AACC campus.
  • Donald Lilley, YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Coretta Scott King Award. A recognized leader in the educational community for his reforms as the principal at Annapolis High School, he is also the president of the Anne Arundel Alliance of Black School Educators.

When accepting his award, Shanklin said he is excited to continue the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I want to impact people of Anne Arundel County, to touch lives in valuable, visible ways,”  he said.

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