Keynote speaker present at `I Have a Dream’ speech
By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — On Sunday, Jan. 17, one could tell from Donovan Barner’s inflection and cadence in reciting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech the 12-year-old had listened to actual recordings of the 1968 event.
“I have practiced it over and over again,” said the Power APAC (Academic and Performing Arts Complex) School seventh grader who has recited the speech on numerous occasions. But Sunday was his first time to perform it for the diocesan celebration at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.
“It’s uplifting. I don’t get tired of doing it,” Barner said. “I like continuing to let people know about Dr. King’s speech and that his dream is still alive no matter how long ago he passed away.”
Donovan said the speech empowers him to imitate Dr. King. “Getting better and better at giving this speech in front of more and more people makes me feel I can become more like him. It inspires me to do more things to help the human race.”
Keynote speaker for the event, Dr. Gene Young, said Banner is on the right track. “The young people of Donovan Barner’s generation need to know about Dr. King and need to pass it on to the next generation. People need to know God sends us prophets every once in a while to remind us of the injustice and inequality that persists in our society. We still have a long way to go.”
Dr. Young, former English and speech professor at Jackson State University, is a veteran civil rights activist, having attended the 1963 March on Washington when Dr. King made the famous speech. He was Barner’s age at the time.
In 1966, he marched with Dr. King in the Meredith March Against Fear in Mississippi.
“People need to remember, as Dr. Young said in his speech, that Jesus came out of nowhere and changed the world forever,” said Joyce Hart, St. Peter parishioner and former director of the Office of Black Catholics.
“Dr. King came along in my time and he too affected the world forever. We need to remember any of us can do this. We just need to keep our eyes on the prize, which is not money and greed. If Dr. King had been about money and greed, we would not be where we are today. He sacrificed for us and it is up to us to do the same for the people coming after us,” Hart said.
In his closing remarks, Bishop Joseph Latino of the Diocese of Jackson said the only way for Dr. King’s dream of equality to become a reality is for people to continue to work to realize it.
Will Jemison, director of the Office of Black Catholics and event coordinator, presented Dr. Young a plaque in honor of his work in civil rights.
A reception followed.
