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Message, not method, honors MLK

A variety of events, speakers and programs will honor the civil rights leader's memory, all to bring people together.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published January 15, 2005

Two years ago, a rift developed when the city of Largo and the Greater Ridgecrest Area couldn't see eye to eye on how to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The communities decided to hold separate events to honor the slain civil rights leader.

But some community leaders discovered a better solution: Honor King separately. And honor King together.

Both Tony Welch, executive director of the YMCA of the Suncoast's Greater Ridgecrest branch, and activist Rodney Woods plan to attend events in both communities.

It's not about the celebrations, they said. It's about King's message of peace, racial equality and civil rights.

"It's supporting the legacy that has changed lives for everyone. It's supporting that day and what his name means and what he stood for," Welch said.

Everyone has a choice, Welch added. They can pout about not being involved, or they can understand that people celebrate in different ways.

It was the turmoil between the city and the Ridgecrest area over the King celebration in 2003 that got Woods involved in Largo government.

The two communities don't have to have carbon copy celebrations to honor King properly, said Woods, who is likely Largo's first black candidate for City Commission.

"Even if we visit each other's events, that's positive," said Woods, who will be performing a saxophone solo at Largo's candlelight vigil.

The vigil, which will be held at 7 tonight at Largo Central Park, will feature a variety of speeches and entertainment. Presentations include a keynote speech by police Chief Lester Aradi, a performance by the Dancing Angels from Christ Church of Universal Love, songs from Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and a candle lighting ceremony led by Mayor Robert Jackson.

As they've done for many years, the Ridgecrest community will hold its own vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Monday's festivities in Ridgecrest will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a march from the YMCA's Greater Ridgecrest Branch, 1801 119th St. N. The celebration will continue with a 9:30 a.m. breakfast at Ridgecrest Elementary School featuring health and wellness speaker, Medora Little.

The theme of Ridgecrest's celebration will be "Experience the Fullness of Life through a Healthy, Spirit, Mind and Body."

That theme follows the holistic approach of the Rev. Herbert Crump Jr., the featured speaker at Monday's celebration organized by the NAACP Clearwater-Upper Pinellas County Branch.

Crump, pastor of Freedom Temple Ministries in South Carolina, transformed his congregation from 38 members to more than 2,000 with programs that nurture his community's spiritual, educational, social and economic needs.

"I followed the example of Dr. King, who was more than a Sunday morning preacher. He was an everyday activist concerned about the total well-being of humanity," Crump said.

His church, which he founded in 2000, offers numerous outreach programs, including youth ministries, financial workshops, educational scholarships, family retreats and health care assistance for the sick or bereaved.

Crump's life story is one of transformation as well. A one-time drug dealer and high school dropout, he became a community, religious and cultural leader.

One of Crump's themes in his speech Monday will be to encourage people to honor King's ideals on a daily basis.

"I don't want to pass a dream of Dr. King on to my son. I want to show him the reality of Dr. King's dream," Crump said.

The NAACP's event featuring Crump will begin at 8 a.m. Monday with a breakfast at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 1201 Douglas Ave.

The march will start about 10:30 a.m. at the center and will continue down Drew Street to Coachman Park, where there will be a rally.

Safety Harbor and Dunedin also will celebrate King's legacy.

Today, Safety Harbor will host a celebration at 10:30 a.m. at the Safety Harbor Marina with entertainment and a 1-mile march down Main Street to Daisy Douglas Park starting at 11 a.m. There will be food, entertainment and games at the park from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Monday, Dunedin's MLK Recreation Center at 550 Laura St. will offer a day of activities for children from kindergarten to eighth grade. To register, call 738-2920 or 298-3286.

At 6 p.m. Monday, Dunedin will hold a candlelight vigil and celebration in Pioneer Park at Main Street and Douglas Avenue.

[Last modified January 15, 2005, 02:35:15]