Culver City will host its sixth annual tribute to the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Senior Center, 4095 Overland Ave.
The day-long celebration honoring Dr. King begins at 10:30.
It will feature the community’s finest talent, including the Culver City High School’s Madrigal Singers, led by Dr. Tony Spano; the high school Jazz Combo; Phillip Small conducting the West Los Angeles College Jazz Ensemble; vocalist CHIKK, singing the Star Spangled Banner; and Nelval Sandefur leading the audience in “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“We are delighted to have been able to assemble such a wide variety of gifted Culver City performers to pay to tribute to Dr. King and his legacy,” says Patricia Siever, chairperson of the Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Committee. “This is our best lineup by far, and we want everyone to come out and enjoy all the festivities.”
One major highlight of MLK celebration is a presentation of the award-winning documentary, “Freedom Riders.”
A dramatic account of the journey of 400 civil rights activists who traveled by bus throughout the Deep South in 1961, the film vividly demonstrates how they risked their lives to fight for equality and justice.
The screening of Freedom Riders will be followed by a five-member panel discussion on civil rights. Two original Freedom Riders, Dr. Robert Singleton and Helen Singleton, will be on the panel, as well as Dr. Mitchell Curry a student activist in the 1950’s who marched alongside Dr. King.
Dr. Curry will give a personal account of the early days of the civil rights movement during his keynote address.
Melnelik Tafari, a Culver High graduate who now is a community organizer, and student organizer Kenyatta McLean a will also sit on the panel representing the viewpoint of the post-civil rights movement generation. The discussion will be moderated by the actor Keith David who also will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
Mr. David is well known for his roles in Platoon, Crash, and, most recently, Death at a Funeral. In addition to his stage and acting career, he has won Emmys for his narration of two Ken Burns’ PBS documentaries, and he was the voice of Dr. Facilier in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Mr. David will play a leading role as the criminal illusionist Max Malini in the upcoming NBC pilot series The Cape.
The Dr. King tribute will also feature a Culver City High School essay contest.
Senior students were invited to submit an essay on the theme, “Dr. King . . . . continuing to Inspire.”
Students were asked how Dr. King has inspired them to be a leader and given a series of quotes from which to build their essays.
The submissions were judged by the King Tribute Committee. After being coached by Mr. David, the top three essayists will read their responses to the audience.
In addition to the performances, there will be activities for children, refreshments and a birthday cake. All festivities are free and open to the public. See www.culvercity.org or 310.253.6675.
