City of Columbia’s MLK Celebration Inspires Youth

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- The city of Columbia hosted it’s 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Monday at the Durham E. Carter Community Center.

Organizers said the city named the community center after Carter who chaired the Martin Luther King Foundation for 20 years.

Singing we shall overcome, a diverse crowd acknowledged the man who stood for unity, in hopes to inspire the next generation.

“It’s very important that the youth understands where we come from,” MLK memorial Foundation Committee Chair, Henri Baskins. “There’s a saying that those who forget their history is doomed to repeat it. We cannot repeat the history of this nation.We must go forward.”

Not only was Dr. King recognized, but local civil right pioneers who helped create a diverse city counsel were as well.

“Mr.Carter was a dynamic force in this community,” Baskins said. In fact, if Carter hadn’t galvanized people together, we may still be living under the election of a system that we had in Columbia years ago.”

“We are standing on the shoulders of so many right now,” City of Columbia Mayor, Stephen K. Benjamin said. “Young people from all across this community are just looking for the opportunity to live up to their God given potential.”

Powerful and emotional speeches touched on King’s legacy in the world.

“Dr.King was not just about civil rights, he was about the economic rights of people and the economic legacy he left for us is that we need to serve others,” Baskins said.

“We’re here because of the people who marched,cried,fought and people who’ve died so we can have equal opportunity and justice in America through some of our most troubled times,” Benjamin said.

Organizers said today’s MLK Celebration recognized the youth, in hopes to motivate them succeed no matter their background.

“We are all the same,” Baskins said. “Skin color should not hold anyone back from getting a good job, a good education, and living in good, clean, healthy homes.”

Organizers also gave out several scholarships to Columbia youth.