ST. LOUIS – The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, “Now is the Time,” took place Monday after being rescheduled due to inclement weather on Jan. 16.
Many gathered at St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley to highlight racial harmony and justice in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil rights leader Rev. Darryl Gray gave a message to the community.
“We’ve used up our past. We shouldn’t misuse the future of our youth. And so, let’s talk about it right now. And when we come on campuses like this, hopefully, we talk to young people,” he said.
Rev. Gray was the featured keynote speaker at Monday’s event. He was a friend of Dr. King and served in his Southern Christian Leadership Conference for over 40 years.
The theme of this year’s celebration was “Now is the Time,” an excerpt from Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech.
Students from St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley and other St. Louis County high schools had the opportunity to share their perspective on Dr. King’s “Now is the Time” excerpt.
“I would not imagine myself in a position where I’m speaking that close to somebody who’s been in such a revolutionary moment,” Arianna Kimbrough, St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley student speaker, said.
Rev. Gray holds a strong option for the issue of eliminating African-American studies from schools.
“Is it that you’re trying to eliminate trauma for little white students, or do you not want little white students to read that history? And maybe find out that history is repeating itself,” Rev. Gray said.
North County Churches Uniting announced the oratorical contest winners and allowed students to voice their perspectives on furthering Dr. King’s dream of equality.
For more information on upcoming Black History Month events at St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley, click here.
