This year, as we celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we invite you to reflect on our theme: Ordinary People Have the Power to Do Extraordinary Things.
One impressive example of that theme was the historic March on Washington where an estimated 250,000 people gathered in the nation’s capital to hear King’s now iconic words, “I have a dream.” Those “ordinary” people traveled from all over the country in record numbers to show support and courageously demand change. The event was televised live at a time when TV was a relatively new medium. For many Americans around the country, this was their first time hearing King speak publicly. The speech as well as the images of the historic, integrated crowds had a huge impact on public opinion, on advancing the civil rights movement in the U.S. and on the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act the following year. The courage and representation of those ordinary people helped amplify King’s message to accomplish extraordinary things.
Aug. 28, 2023, marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and was a poignant reminder that although a lot of progress has been made, we still have much work to do. Last summer’s event was billed as “not a commemoration,” but a “continuation” of King’s vision and call to action.
We invite you to join us and get involved in the “continuation” of that legacy. In collaboration with Grants Pass Remembrance, Courageous Conversations and Grants Pass High School, RCC’s Diversity Programming Board is sponsoring and participating in the following events during the MLK weekend:
- Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the GPHS Performing Arts Center – Community Gathering hosted by Grants Pass Remembrance: Creative Presentation and Community Resource Fair
- Monday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. at Newman United Methodist Church – MLK Day Celebration: Inspiring Evening of Story and Song hosted by DPB/Courageous Conversations
To share this history and vision, we will be giving away free copies of King’s book, “Why We Can’t Wait” at the Saturday and Monday events. To add Monday’s event to your calendar, click the Read More! link in the Save the Date section of the Rogue Report and use the “download .ics” option.
If you have questions, email Lucia Bartscher at lbartscher@roguecc.edu. We hope to see you!