Honoring Dr. King’s Dream

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Monday celebrates Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and it’s a day to remember and honor his dream.

All those years ago, Dr. King talked of freedom and human rights. Many today said, though the county has taken great strides, there is still much to do.

Colorful Kumeyaay Dancers kept the audience awestruck at a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, and the World’s Beat Center’s message of embracing all cultures even more poignant on Monday.

“Kids are not going for this white, black, red, yellow. We go to have the kids have mentors, people talking bad and ugly things about each other. We gotta lift each other up,” said Makeda Dread Cheatom.

Dr. King’s message of continued movement, continued improvement, not lost on the youth.

Members of a dance troupe said dancing has kept them from bad things.

“I just dance to keep me out of trouble. Before I used to steal, started dancing and never get into trouble after that,” said 15-year-old Antonyio Powell.

Families of all kinds came to Balboa Park to bond over Dr. King’s dream of unity.

“I want to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. Why? Because he was always a good person,” said six-year-old Scarlett Price.

“Just make sure our kids know how important it is that everybody is treated the same. It doesn’t matter what they look like on the outside, it’s all about what’s on the inside,” said Robyn Micelli Price.

Are we not all the same color inside?

Shirley Chin decided to donate blood on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

A child of immigrants who fled China’s communist regime, she remembers seeing Dr. King on television.

“I knew at that moment something big was about to happen,” she said.

“My parents were scared. They were immigrants. I admire him because he spoke for everybody, not just for himself,” she added.

The theme in Monday’s celebration at Balboa Park in honor of Dr. King was, I am a human, I am the dream. Peace, being the answer to being one.

“That means the ones we like, the ones we don’t like, disdain, afraid of, everybody’s gotta be under the same tent. You have to find a way to work with each other, around each other, and for each other. That’s what the beloved community is all about, otherwise it is all just talk,” said Ashley Walker.

A point made Monday, Dr. King’s I have a Dream is not something that stays in one’s head while dreaming, it’s action and moving towards a better, more inclusive, non-violent society.