Prayers, Song,
and Dance Mark Progress Toward Peace At Martin Luther King Day
Celebration
by Jesse Klein
SWEDESBORO -- January 15, 2007 would have been the
78th birthday for famed civil right leader and Nobel Peace
Prize Winner, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But instead of sorrow over the
loss of King, who was assassinated nearly 50 years ago, residents of
Swedesboro and the surrounding area raised their voices in anthem to
commemorate his life.
The service entitled, “One Person Makes a
Difference” was held at the Margaret C. Clifford School which stands on
the very ground that once was home to the Auburn Avenue School, the last
segregated school built in New Jersey.
The Auburn Avenue School was built in 1942 a block
away from the Richardson Avenue School that still stands. Formerly a
Masonic Hall, the Richardson Avenue School, the last adapted school for
“separate but equal education” of African American children in New
Jersey, had been condemned.
Rather than integrate the black and white children,
Swedesboro opted instead to build the Auburn Avenue School which was
later demolished to make way for the Margaret C. Clifford School of
today.
The historical significance of these former schools
was underscored by Rev. Sherry Lynn Hall of New Destiny Ministries. “Let
us remember the days when there were signs in windows that read no dogs,
no Negroes, no Mexicans.” Just as we can never forget the Holocaust, we
cannot forget the civil rights struggle, and the difficult battles waged
to try to end degradation and segregation, she added.
Hall praised the event that drew people of all ages
and ethnicities together encouraging them to set the example, spread the
message of peace and equality, while never forgetting the past. She then
shared the gift of her beautiful voice to sing Dr.King's Favorite song,
“If I can Help Somebody.”
Teenagers Abram Hall and Arvin Hall sang, “Walk
with Jesus,” a rap song written by fellow teen Kelvonne Rhett who also
performed a hip hop dance act.
Jared Rollins, a student at Kingsway Regional High
School, recited excerpts from Rev. King’s Montgomery Bus Boycott Speech
delivered in Montgomery Alabama back on December 20, 1956.
African Americans there had walked rather than ride
the bus for 12 months in a non-violent protest until the Supreme Court
deemed that segregation of public transportation was both illegal and
sociologically invalid.
This speech is a shining example of King’s legacy,
his deep understanding of the significance of the event and his
sensitivity for what the new court order would mean for America, Rollins
said. Rollins finished by quoting, “Say that I was a drum major for love
peace and righteousness.”
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THE SOUTH JERSEY COMMUNITY CHOIR performed during ceremonies. The
event featured many of King’s favorite gospel songs and quotes
from his famous speeches.
Photo by Jessie Klein
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Dr. Thomas Lane, retired Superintendent of
Bridgeton Schools, gave a moving recitation of King’s most famous
speech, “I Have a Dream,” his voice rising to a final crescendo with
“Thank God Almighty Free at Last!”
Swedesboro Mayor Tom Fromm followed Rollins. “It is
a tremendous honor to be standing on this historic site.” Fromm thanked
all those in attendance including fellow Mayor and Gloucester County
Freeholder Joe Chilla, and Mayor Frank Minor of Logan Township.
Fromm reminisced that while the 60’s and 70’s were
full of hope and optimism much of that hope was dashed by the
assassinations of Rev. King and President John F. Kennedy.
He noted with sadness the recent racist threats
made against Mayor Charles Tyson the first African American Mayor of
South Harrison.
“While we need to acknowledge progress, we must
continue to fight prejudice, each of us one by one proving that that is
not the way we are going to be.”
Fromm closed by praising the restoration efforts
that are ongoing at the Richardson Avenue School calling it one of the
jewels in the history of Swedesboro. “We remain committed to doing
everything we can to preserve this historic landmark.”
Lucille Stewart-Mitchell who attended the
Richardson School took the stage with a bell in hand, fondly recalling
that hand held bells were the method used to bring the classes to order.
“We began the day with the Psalm “The Lord is my Sheppard” followed by
the Lord’s Prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Stewart remembers being taught to do unto others as
you would have them do unto you and that teachers were not afraid to
discipline unruly students. “We got a good crack with a ruler if we did
not behave. Back then there was no DYFS. There were the teachers and our
parents.”
She shared memories of the Richardson Avenue School
that had no lunch room. She recalled fondly occasions when she and
fellow students would share lunch sitting on top of the coal box.
The large second floor that held as many as 50
students had two stoves and there was one stove in each of the two first
floor classrooms, “but no one ever got burned.”
“There was no gym or even a yard so at playtime we
would swing from the apple tree,” Stewart-Mitchell recalled. “We walked
back and forth to school and down to the Grammar School (now St Josephs
Parish) for Home Ec and Shop classes and no one ever got caught playing
hooky.”
Stewart told the gathering that each student that
left the Richardson Avenue School was given the tools to succeed, many
becoming doctors and lawyers. Stewart herself went on to become a model
and fashion designer.
Stewart’s reflections were followed with the entire
audience being led in song by the South Jersey Community Choir in a
joyful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black
National Anthem.
Dr. Michelle Blair was joined by her three year old
son Jacob Blair who did an admirable job reciting the pledge of
allegiance. Blair then presented the Martin Luther King Community
Service Awards to Sterling Johnson, a tenth grade Delsea High School
student; Jordan Holly, a seventh grade Kingsway Middle School student;
Danielle Murray, a tenth grade Kingsway High School student; Peter V.
Palena III, a ninth grade Salesianum High School student; and Candace
Hall-Holland, a fifth grade student at Woodland Country Day School.
These students ranging from fifth to tenth graders
were honored because they were nominated by community leaders for the
Presidential Volunteer Service Award. After meeting certain criteria
these students will then be eligible to receive the presidential award
signed by President Bush at the Black History Celebration on Feb. 25 at
Trinity Episcopal Church.
Mayor Frank Minor of Logan Township expressed his
gratefulness for the personal sacrifices and significant contributions
King made during his brief lifetime, “Through his writing and his
actions he did much to change this country. His words translated into
energy. He made things happen.”
Yet, Minor continued, King would not be satisfied
with things just as they are today. He felt that King would be unhappy
with the level of crime and the number of African Americans that are in
prison and racial intolerance that infects Darfur, but can hit as close
to home as our own communities.
Minor finished by saying, “King’s dream was
far-reaching. We must continue to fight for it. We celebrate his life
because he taught us to fight for our rights without lowering ourselves,
as long as our cause was just and our spirits were determined.”
Reverend Jamila Woods-Jones who had traveled from
Cornerstone African Methodist Episcopal Church in LaPlata, MD to join
the festivities, remarked that King held firm to his faith, believed in
love and action and that struggle is universal. She followed her remarks
with a heartrending gospel song, “He’ll Do It Again.”
Historian Elaine Edwards who chaired the day’s
event and is one of the driving forces for H.E.L.P. the Historical and
Educational Lodge-Hall Preservatory, thanked the committee members and
all the area sponsors. She gave special thanks to Diamond Sponsor
Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation who organized 50 employees that
morning to volunteer as part of a major clean up effort on the grounds
of the Historic Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Mount Zion Church, located at 171 Garwin Road
behind Kingsway High School, is also steeped in African American
History. The construction of the building in 1834 marked the growth in
the congregation providing them with a social center for the community
to worship and educate and promote the suffrage rights of African
Americans.
It is also famous as a station on the Underground
Railroad providing shelter for African Americans fleeing the bonds of
slavery.
Edwards encouraged everyone in attendance to join
in a tour of the Richardson Avenue School following the event, and
reminded people to turn out for the Black History Program on Sunday,
Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church.
The event came to a close with more jubilant music
sung by the South Jersey Community Choir and directed by the talented
Reverend Sherry Lynn Hall.
