Greenwich Village Gazette

By Donna Lamb

This year’s City Hall festivity in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was every bit as much a celebration of the election of President Barack Obama as it was an honoring of the life and legacy of the great civil rights leader himself. As Council Member Larry Seabrook said of the two men, "One had a dream; the other made it a reality."

The evening began with a very warm welcome from the City Council Majority Whip Inez Dickens (right) , who spoke of how happy she thought Dr. King would have been to see Obama elected. She went on to state that we need to pray for our new president because, as he takes office, he has inherited a war, a government without money and a country where people are losing their homes, children are in despair, education is failing and healthcare has become unaffordable for many. "Although we are suffering in this country today, we have to understand that the man will not be able to fulfill all his promises immediately," she continued. "We must look forward and stand together united with him in our fight for justice."

Speaker Christine Quinn noted that it was important to take the time to look back at King’s legacy and forward to what we have ahead. "Thank goodness we have a leader who can actually lead, someone who has a vision of including everyone together in moving the country forward," she declared.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Rev. Floyd Flake (right) , Senior Pastor of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral, who said of Obama’s election that it's great to be part of this experience that everyone is so excited about, not only here in America but around the world. "I don't know that anybody in my lifetime has been lifted to a position where the whole world has a sense that something great is happening," he commented. "These are indeed the best of times and the worst of times, and I do believe Obama is the right man for this hour."

One of the highpoints of the evening was a recitation by nine-year-old Mohammed Drammeh (right) who delivered – from memory – both Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and Barack Obama speech regarding race, given during his campaign, that has come to be known as "A More Perfect Union." Stirring musical interludes were provided by the fabulous Inspirational Choir of St. Phillips Baptist Church, as well as by Angela Cooper and Samuel Clarke who moved everyone deeply with their rendition of "We Shall Overcome." The St. Luke AME Church Nubian Queen Mothers also brought the audience to its feet with their spiritual dance performance.

During the celebration, three people were honored for accepting Dr. King’s challenge to "think beyond themselves, look past differences and work toward equality." They were Ernest G. Green (center left), who was one of the first Black students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas following the Supreme Court ruling to desegregate in 1954; Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference and a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, and William Rapfogel, CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty which provides nearly 100,000 people with home care, housing, employment, crisis intervention and other social and community services.

The evening concluded with a delicious repast in the rotunda.

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