Ms. Nicholson deserves credit because of the city’s impressive turnaround and because she cheerfully weathered the criticism I issued a year ago at this time.
For seven hours on Sunday, Jan. 15, from 12 noon to 7 p.m., at the Culver Palms United Methodist Church, Gospel singing, speechmaking, soul food and a film festival will rock the block on Sepulveda Boulevard in honor of Dr. King.
Looking at the program, it sounds as if it will be a rhythmic, energizing, foot-stomping time that will make your heart beat much faster than when you strolled in.
The day will be divided into three large and separate sections. From 12 to 3 — The Dream Continues, by Mustardseed Ministries, will feature a historical review of the Civil Rights/Freedom Movement, spotlighting fashion, drama, songs and poetry.
From 3 to 5, a Gospel concert, starring the Right Way Baptist Church choir, the Inglewood Senior Center Choir, the Bhajan Band and the Agape Children’s Choir.
The climaxing chapter of the day, from 5 to 7, will center on a film festival, An Amazing Grace, about Dr. King, and The Rosa Parks Story, both films through the courtesy of the artist Avery Clayton. Mr. Clayton is the subject of a current Front Page story. Later this year, he plans to unveil the largest collection of African American books and memorabilia in the western United States, the Mayme A. Clayton Library, named for his mother, on the site of the Old Courthouse on Overland Avenue, near the corner of Culver Boulevard.
Although Dr. King’s birthday has been a national holiday for more than twenty years, this is the first year that Culver City has staged a party truly visible to the naked eye and worthy of the civil rights leader.
Never mind that The Front Page spent the first half of last year scolding potential organizers — City Hall, black leadership, white leadership — for traditionally ignoring the day and the sacred memory of Dr. King.
Four years ago, there was a tiny celebration in Culver City Park, overlooking the community. Anyone blinking missed the whole event. The pocket-sized party did not last as long as it takes the Downtown signal lights to change colors.
Last year, when I ran off to Santa Monica to honor Dr. King more appropriately, one department at City Hall staged a low-key get-together for a few boys and girls. If they had held it in the middle of the street, no one even would have been hit.
Several City Hall officials defended the city-sponsored events that were smaller than anything I could stage in the backseat of my car.
It was time to agitate. We needled. We prodded, trying to convince anyone who considers himself a leader to seize the initiative. Have a vision, or a dream, and organize, we urged.
We salute all who have contributed a drop of crackling creativity or energy to a magnificent idea.
For years, we didn’t do anything worthy of being described as a party. Now, by staging King Day on Sunday instead of Monday, we are getting the drop on other communities that will honor Dr. King on the national holiday itself.
To all of the organizers and participants, well done.
