Five stories that have North Texas talking: On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, recalling his visit to SMU, exploring events across Dallas-Fort Worth that honor him, and more.
Martin Luther King, Jr. appeared at SMU nearly 50 years ago, making a speech to a standing-room-only audience in a 2,700-seat auditorium. The Dallas Morning News explored that in March 1966 in Sunday鈥檚 newspaper. 鈥淚n the front row were SMU trustees, including Bill Clements, who would one day be Texas governor. 鈥楾here is a need to stand up,鈥� King said in the speech recorded by an audience member. 鈥楾here is a need for all people of good will in this nation to become involved participants, for all too long we have had silent onlookers. But now there must be more involved participants to solve this problem and get rid of this one huge wrong of our nation.鈥欌�� Read excerpts of his speech . Read the transcript of the speech .
- If Martin Luther King, Jr. were speaking at a march on Washington today, what would he say? That was the topic of Friday's . Eight Dallas ISD students addressed a crowd at the Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas. The winner was Kayla O鈥橬eal, a fourth grader at J.P. Starks Math, Science & Technology Vanguard Elementary School. She said: 鈥淗e would rejoice to see children of all races siting in classrooms learning together, problem solving together, and sharing goals and dreams with each other. He would acknowledge the fact that African-Americans have come a mighty long way. 鈥� However, Dr. King would also have to acknowledge all of the things that are affecting not only our communities, but this entire country. The No. 1 problem that he would address would be drugs in our community.鈥�
- Several events are taking place Monday that honor the civil rights leader. They include in Dallas, which starts at 10 a.m.; and , which starts at 11 a.m.
- Many decide to honor MLK by holding a day of service. One such MLK Day of Service is happening in Tarrant County and organized by the Tarrant Area Community of Churches. Online registration is closed, but at Baker Chapel A.M.E. Church in Fort Worth. The service event will help a variety of charitable groups across Tarrant County, including food banks, a community garden, and the elderly. Here鈥檚 a helped by the Tarrant service event.
- The ninth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium at the Dallas City Performance Hall. 鈥淔ifty years ago, in his landmark 鈥業 Have a Dream鈥� speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., said 鈥�...With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.鈥� Is that dream becoming a reality? Keynote speaker Tour茅 will be joined by panelists Rev. Peter Johnson, Lauren Embrey and Dr. Angela Ards to discuss the realities of race in America fifty years after the dream.鈥� There will be a musical introduction by the North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship Men in Worship Ensemble.
