40th Annual Reverend MLK, Jr. Birthday Celebration

By Jennifer L. Warren

BEACON – “Being able to help someone in need is an honor.” “Martin Luther King Jr. made a difference in many people’s lives; one of them was mine.”

These were just a couple of the sentences that led the essays of some local elementary school students whose sensitive, resonating pieces were entered in the Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest. The phrases are a powerful testament to the iconic man who was celebrated across the country Monday for his courageous, heroic, and at times, necessary rebellious acts aimed at equality, fairness, and peace. It was that very legacy that incited Beacon’s Barbara E. Baker to call what was to be a community-changing meeting at her home 41 years ago. The intent was to find some way to bring people, all people, together to pay tribute to King in a very special manner. That night, three other women, Ruth Goins, Jeanette Brisco, and Gemma Campbell answered the call. Although they were small in number, they were mighty in purpose, and one year later Baker’s initial vision would come to fruition. Now, 40 years later that foursome’s convening has evolved into the Southern Dutchess Coalition Inc. Annual Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. It has gained further momentum with the “Pete Seeger March,” Talent Youth Showcase, Annual Essay Contest, an ensemble of artistic entertainment, and a community following unlike any other. Although Baker has passed away, it carries pieces of her pioneer spirit, as her daughter, Jennifer Baker-McClinton, has taken the torch, overseeing the popular, annual event, as the Coalition’s Chairperson. Baker pointed to the multi-layered special nature of this year’s event.

“This year is our 40th, and with so much tension going on in the world, it is extra necessary for people to celebrate someone like Dr. King,” said Baker. “In addition, we are honoring Barbara Baker-Baylor who passed away over the summer; she was a person who did everything for our organization, like a mother to the young people as well.”

Two themes were embedded throughout the full day of activities; tolerance and faith as well as the message if I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain. Every place you turned at Springfield Baptist Church Monday traces of those words could be found. Outside, despite the frigid temperatures, an impressive group of marchers, holding signs containing King’s photograph, messages of love, peace and equality, while singing an assortment of uplifting songs, could be spotted in the early morning, kicking off the day’s positive, uplifting tone. Inside, as the day proceeded, Essay contest winners were revealed, music and entertainment resonated throughout the building with youth and adult talent shows and a host of local dignitaries paid tribute to the man of the day, King, and how his fiery spirit and timeless messages are still needed now, perhaps more than ever before.

“It’s cold outside, but somehow are all managing to stay very warm inside,” affirmed a passionate Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive. “Martin Luther King Jr. was not loved until after his death for some of the things he said and did. Raising his arm and fist in the air for emphasis, Molinaro continued, “Dr. King reminds us we do not need those in power to lead us as long as we are willing to serve; King asked the uncomfortable questions, what we can do to serve others, stirring us up.”

For King, that pot was laden with extremes of all kinds. Extremes for peace. Extremes for justice. Extremes for truth. Extremes for righteousness and most of all extremes for love. Carrying a potent message of non-violence, his energies were directed at fighting injustice, bigotry, war, inhumanity and oppression. For all those reasons, and many more, the SDC MLK Jr. Celebration continues to thrive each year, drawing increasingly impressive numbers of people, who refuse to abandon hope that King’s Dream will some day be fully realized.

“Today we live in a very devisive environment, so the memory of Dr. King and his messages are so important to be a guiding light and beacon to where we as Americans should be and how we should act towards each other,” said Dr. Anesta Vannoy, a choir member of the SDC, Inc. “He reminds us of our founding father’s ideals and that America is about freedom and the pursuit of happiness, caring and love.”

And perhaps, despite everything else happening in the world, Monday, at a little Church in Beacon, for several hours, King’s magic was alive and well.

“Today is just so great,” said Pastor Edward Benson as the Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March was about to commence. “Seeing people from all races, religions and backgrounds coming together for a common purpose of justice and equality is a wonderful thing to see.

Many, including Dr. King, would find that hard to dispute.