TUPELO — This weekend will see the return of the Committee for King’s four-day event honoring the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Beginning Friday night with a talent show and ending Monday morning, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with a motorcade dedicated to the man that helped shore up civil rights in the nation.
Each year, the committee has a theme for the events. This year’s theme is “The Dream: It Starts with Me.”
“I want to encourage everyone to support our theme this year,” Committee for King Executive Director Chevelle Champ said. “Put yourself into it not just the weekend of Martin Luther King, but every day.”
On Friday night, starting at 6 p.m. at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium, the committee will kick off the weekend with the youth “Who’s Got Talent” show, which is free to watch and take part in. Emcees this year include Rance Champ Jr., Azaria Dandridge and Jaren Givhan. Organizers will provide pizza and drinks to participants and their families.
The event will have facts about the life and works of King and include a question-and-answer portion for the younger audience to answer questions for prizes. Champ said this was an effort to get the youth engaged with the history and better absorb it. The talent show, she said, honors King’s spirit by honoring his love of education and supporting youth.
“(King) was for education and equality. He pushed for our youth to do greater things,” she said. “This is a way to bring them all together doing something they love doing. We have so many gifted youth in our area.”
The annual awards banquet will be Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tupelo Furniture Market Building No. 5, with a keynote presentation from Brittany Brown, Andrea Morales and Charity Scott. The trio are members of Memphis-based online forum MLK50: Justice Through Journalism.
During the event, the committee will present the Image Award, Community Service Award and Drum Major Award. Tickets were $40, but the event sold out on Tuesday.
“That night, we are recognizing three extraordinary individuals … for their good work and giving back to the community, which is a resemblance to Dr. Martin Luther King and what he stood for,” Champ said.
Champ said there was a major change to the Sunday program from previous years. On Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m., the committee will host free health screenings at the Good Samaritan Health Services Antone Hill Clinic, located at 420 Magazine Street. The event will include a petition to expand Medicaid in Mississippi.
At 3:45 p.m., the attendees will walk from the free clinic to the Salvation Army at 527 Carnation Street for a reception with a meal with the organization from 4-5:30 p.m.
Monday will see the annual Committee for King motorcade at 11 a.m. from Reed’s Manufacturing, 1321 South Veterans Memorial Boulevard, moving along the Martin Luther King Drive portion of Highway 45 to the commemorative service at St. Paul United Methodist Church Christian Life Center, 502 Front Street.
Rev. Charlie Barnes will speak, two scholarships will be awarded. Geno Jones and Focus will perform music.
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