EAST ORANGE, NJ — Each January, it is customary for schools to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Together with East Orange City Council, the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Division of Senior Services and the East Orange School District, Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing & Fine Arts remembered Martin Luther King Jr. by throwing a birthday celebration in his honor on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the school’s auditorium.
Attendees were able to hear excerpts from King’s famous speeches, watch dance performances and hear keynote speakers discuss the message King left for future generations.
“We’re having our annual Dr. King event for the city,” 4th Ward Councilman Casim Gomez said to the Record-Transcript during the celebration. “Tonight’s event was amazing. You’re talking about Dr. Martin Luther King. He’s a part of our history. I feel fabulous, I feel really excited to be here. I think it was an important event and I’m honored to be here.”
During the evening, the Exercise Group from the Division of Senior Citizens took over the stage for a dance performance. Next, the East Orange Silver Steppers danced to several songs, which entertained the audience and energized the crowd.
“This is exciting,” 2nd Ward Councilman Christopher Awe said to the Record-Transcript during the event. “In regard to Martin Luther King, obviously, we never want to forget the fact that we saw it fitting to just give a moment to actually recognize and commemorate him, but also rededicate ourselves to the vision and the legacy that he lived, which was to love one another, and also our service to the community is important.”
Later on, the High-Class Theater Group Youth Dancers performed a memorable dance piece, with four school-aged children dancing to the lyrics of gospel.
Soon after, the Rev. Dana Owens of Messiah Baptist Church in East Orange addressed the crowd, discussing how King’s words and actions changed the world, and how important it is that future generations be told.
“Tonight, there was a program in honor of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said 1st Ward Councilwoman Amy Lewis to the Record-Transcript during the event on Wednesday, Jan. 15. “It was absolutely beautiful. We had the community out, participating and just showing how much we do still love this civil rights leader. His words in our hearts will live on forever.”
She continued: “To see our youth out and actually acknowledging who Martin Luther King Jr. was and is in their lives and to be happy to participate in the program is what was such a joyous thing to see.”
In closing, everyone broke out in song to” Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“Tonight’s event was amazing,” Justin Brown, aide to East Orange Mayor Ted Green, said to the Record-Transcript during the event. “It was a well-put-together program. It displayed our youth, and we had a great keynote speaker tonight, Pastor Owens, and the message was really to remember Dr. King’s name and honoring his legacy.”
Photos by EmilyAnn Jackman
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