Local leaders, community unite to celebrate MLK at 23rd Unity Breakfast

FLAT ROCK - Many local leaders, along with hundreds from the community, gathered on the morning of Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at Blue Ridge Community College to celebrate the life and legacy of King at the 23rd annual MLK Unity Breakfast.

It was the first time since 2020 that the event was held in person. In 2021 and in 2022, the Unity Breakfast was a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All of the tables in the college's Technology Education and Development Center were filled as the community came to pay tribute to the Georgia minister who was the most influential voice of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.

"It was inspiring to see just over 300 people attend the event to join in the celebration," McCray Benson, president and CEO of Community Foundation of Henderson County said.

The keynote speaker of the event was Dr. James E. Ford, who is the executive director of CREED (The Center for Racial Equity in Education). He is an award-winning educator who was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve as an NC State Board of Education member representing the Southwest Region, according to a news release.

"People attending the event felt that his message was just right for the times and appreciated his in-depth study of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. going beyond the usual excerpts of pieces from life experiences and quotes of Dr. King to look at the full context for the challenges that push us to achieve more meaningful outcomes as we awake from the dream and implement the making our future as a community," Benson said. "One special comment expressed to me at the event is how this spoke to how we 'go beyond the complements of what a great community we are to being the great community we can be.'"

There were several songs and dances performed to honor King. The theme for the event was “Life’s most persistent and urgent question: What are you doing for others?” and local educator Katy Gash said Ford delivered "a brilliant message."

"It encouraged us to truly get to know the life and work and mission of Dr. King. Don’t limit him to the cuddly quotes that don’t challenge us. Instead, be about the broader and deeper business of true reflection, meaningful action, and difficult change," she said.

"What are you doing for others? What are you doing for the least among us? What are you doing to right the injustices of history, to fight for the marginalized, or to care for the overlooked? For that is the persistent and urgent question that we all must get to answering."

Crystal Cauley of the Black History Collective of Henderson County was also moved by the speech, as well as all the performances.

"I enjoyed walking away with challenging myself with the question presented throughout the program, 'what are you doing for others?' I enjoyed watching the young people have a good time, and I look forward to attending every year," Cauley said.

"The MLK Unity Breakfast committee put together an outstanding program again this year," Mayor Barbara Volk said. "The speaker reminded us of the depth of Dr. King’s writing and speeches, which we often forget when all we hear are his most well-known quotes. It’s always a pleasure to see our young people involved, both those sharing their talents and those serving. Congratulations and thank you to all involved."

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Local leaders, community unite to celebrate MLK at 23rd Unity Breakfast