Community leaders gather to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. despite cold

Jan. 16—Subzero temperatures chilled a crowd filing into Second Missionary Baptist Church late Monday morning.

Standing in front of the church's pews, students from Acacia Academy chattered amongst themselves and rehearsed a letter they meant to memorize. Video footage of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was projected above their heads.

Moments after 11 a.m., when the service was scheduled to begin, sound was added to the video of King. He stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his now infamous "I Have a Dream" speech. Slowly, the chit-chat died down and the congregation lifted their heads to watch the video.

Stepping up to the podium, the Rev. Dr. William J. Smith Jr. was the first to comment on the cold weather. He said it was an honor and privilege to see the community gather and celebrate King's birthday despite the frigid weather — King would have been 95 years old.

There were a handful of spiritual leaders among the crowd, including Pastor Jeff Russell and the Rev. Dr. Michael C. Carson, who both led prayers during the celebration. Several elected officials were also in attendance.

"Dr. King was not simply a brilliant orator or a public advocate, but was a representative of a rich tradition from the most high God," Smith said.

Continuing, he called upon the congregation to work against discriminatory acts that "plague our churches and our society," listing things like sexism, racism and homophobia.

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for when people get caught up with that which is right, then they are willing to sacrifice for it," Smith said. "There is no stopping point short of victory. I wish you a meaningful Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day as we honor his legacy of equality and justice for all. Let freedom ring."

Roughly halfway through the service, Kokomo High School chorus members sang a few musical selections. The Second Missionary Baptist Church choir joined them for a couple of songs while audience members clapped and cheered.

Following the well-received performances, Acacia Academy students filed into the aisles to hand out toilet paper-sized slips of paper.

The sheets were a reference to "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which King wrote on toilet paper, and included the quote "... justice too long delayed is justice denied." Students from the school recited the letter.

Rob Hoshaw, headmaster of the school, explained it was also a reference to last year's sermon titled "Danger in the Kingdom," where the Rev. Dr. Winterbourne Harrison-Jones encouraged the audience to use their own symbolic toilet paper to enact change.

As fate would have it, Harrison-Jones was asked to fill in as the event's key speaker.

Initially, the Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, who works with the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary near Chicago, was supposed to present a guest sermon. However, he was unable to attend the event due to weather concerns.

Harrison-Jones had 13 hours to prepare his sermon. He joked Smith was the only person who could call him at 9 p.m. Sunday night and get him to appear in Kokomo by 10 a.m. Monday.

Having to prepare his sermon overnight, there were similarities between Harrison-Jones' Monday sermon and the one he presented last year. However, he put more emphasis on King's undelivered "Why America May Go to Hell" sermon this year.

"For some, history only remembers him as a dreamer. But this is why we must be careful who tells his story, because if you are not, they will take a revolutionary Black prophet and make him into a peace-loving pacifist," Harrison-Jones said. "All over the country, billions gathered today to honor a man very few know. Seldom is hatred and injustice threatened by dreamers."

He called King a prophet who was sent to "challenge the imperial powers of American intolerance and democratic delusion."

In the undelivered "Why America May Go to Hell" sermon, King intended to warn America against racism, poverty and militarism. Harrison-Jones warned the same threats still haunt the American soul.

King also intended to speak on Luke 16:19-31, a parable about a rich man who is punished for ignoring a beggar.

Harrison-Jones read the same passage, warning the audience not to ignore families unable to make a living wage, people who are forgotten through legislation, the persecuted LGBTQ community and immigrants seeking asylum.

He told the congregation they "must be a living legacy, not just once or twice a year, but we must fight 365 days a year against the evils of poverty, exploitation and hatred for all people."

Rather than "Christian passivity or doctrinal distractions," he called for people of all backgrounds to carry King's "torch of leadership and sacrifice."

"Yes," Harrison-Jones said. "It is up to you and I to carry on this great moral legacy of truth telling."

James Bennett III can be reached at 765-454-8580 or james.bennett@kokomotribune.com.