Students from elementary to middle school participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have A Dream” oratory contest Monday morning at the MLK Center. Pictured in front are, left to right, Klinton Wright, Raphael Watts, and Brandon West. In back, left to right, are Adrian Gooden, Tamara White, Jennifer Garcia, and Anna Garcia. Not pictured is Kaitlyn Griffin and Michael Lewis.

Monday, indeed, turned out to be a day where different cultures met, despite inclement weather, to honor the memory of one of the greatest civil rights leaders of all time at ceremonies held at the MLK Center.

A march from Bunert Park to the MLK Center was thwarted by the weather, and those gathered at the park ended up riding to the ceremony instead of braving the elements.

Inside the center guests heard speeches from several prominent citizens of the community reflecting back on the days when Dr. King was alive.

the Navarro College Board of Trustees. “Dr. King talked about how men should conduct themselves … to set examples for future generations and the need to come together, hold hands, and make our voices heard together.”

Borkchum told the audience of about 100 plus about the need to talk to our young men and women, to walk together, to talk together, and stand up for what is right, which inspired the crowd to stand up and give Borkchum a standing ovation after his speech.

Drane Intermediate Principal, Elijah Granger, after educating the audience with some startling statistics concerning education and our youth, and how one school in California had a dropout rate that exceeded the graduation rate.

“It is a statistic that is spreading nationwide,” Granger said. “If we do not stand up as educators, we are going to lose our students.”

Granger did his own inspiring as he told the crowd to step up to the plate as he put out a challenge.

“For 40 years we have heard these speeches,” Granger stated. “For 40 years we have marched. When we have these programs it makes us feel good until we get back to the comfort of our homes and say, “forget it. It’s too much,” what if Dr. King had said, “This is too much to go through!”

“Are you for real, or for show,” said Granger as he pointed to the audience before stating the phrase again. “Are you for real, or for show!”

Granger said he is also a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child, and the only way we, as people, are going to accomplish our goals is through unity.

“Unity,” said Granger, “is the great need of the hour. The people of Corsicana are going to have to come together to ensure our children are raised up in the right way!”

Granger encouraged the crowd to ask themselves, “What am I doing to make sure these young people in this community to ensure they are successful? Are you for real, or are you for show?”

Navarro County NAACP President Leonard Dixon ended the program with the 10 reasons why you should march.

“You should march on the King Holiday if you understand and appreciate the sacrifice and contributions of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Dixon said as he read from a paper distributed by king-raleigh.org. “You should march if you too have a vision and desire that one day the King Dream will become fulfilled. You should march if you have benefited by the economic educational and social remedy, which resulted from King’s life. You should march if you have a sense of obligation to help others understand, by your presence, that the King Holiday is important to the Triangle, Texas and America. You should march if you acknowledge that the King Memorial March is not a protest march, but rather, an assembly of citizens, from across racial and denominational lines, in a confirmation of solidarity with others who recognize the challenges still facing society. You should march if you wish to set a positive example for young people, of all creeds and races, by participating in a civic event which helps reinforce your values of economic justice, peace and respect for all cultures. You should especially march if you’ve never marched before. You should march if you know … deep down inside … that you could/should do more to help inspire and provide a sense of aspiration for our youth. You too should march on Monday, January 21, 2008, if you and your family, civic or church group come to grips with the realization that it is not “uncool” to show support publicly for a message which is still shaping the moral fabric and future of our nation. You should march on the King Holiday because it is an appropriate and honorable response to today’s realities and opportunities!”

Fannin Elementary School student, Brandon West, raises his arm high in the air as he says the final words to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech “Free at last, free at last” during the Navarro County NAACP Oratory Contest held Monday afternoon at the MLK Center. For a list of winners, check out the story in today’s Navarro County Times.

A total of nine students participated in the event, which was broken up into two categories, one for the elementary level and the second for the middle school level.

Brandon West, from Fannin Elementary, won first place and took home $100. Jennifer Garcia, from Drane Intermediate School, came in second place and went home with $50, while her sister, Anna, finished in third place and left with $25 in the elementary division.

In the middle school division, Tamara White, from Collins Middle School, won first place and a $100 prize, Adrian Gooden, from Collins Middle School, finished in second and awarded $50. Other participants included Raphael Watts, Katelyn Griffin, Michael Lewis, and Klinton Wright.

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