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MLK Event 'Shows Potential'

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

Updated: 01/24/2008 07:47 pm

PLANT CITY - The 2008 festival celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday included some longtime traditions along with some changes.

Changes included a slightly different route for the festival parade, which was the first since the city banned throwing beads and candy on parade routes. The city prohibited the distribution of goodies during parades after a 9-year-old Inverness boy, Jordan "Booka" Hays, died after being crushed under the wheels of a church float during the Dec. 7 Plant City Christmas Parade. Jordan was helping distribute candy when he was killed.

Other changes for the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival included a new venue for the festival midway, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex north of Plant City Stadium.

"Overall, the festival shows great potential," said William Thomas Jr., a spokesman for the Improvement League of Plant City, the organizers of the event. "The midway attractions did well. The parade had more participants than in years past. The crowds were not there, but in time I'm sure there will be more people coming back to the parade."

Thomas said he thought the lack of beads and candy distributed along the route limited the number of people who turned out to watch.

"We took the hit for that," Thomas said. "But the meaning of this parade is important, and in the years ahead the numbers will grow. Kudos to those who participated in the parade this year. We appreciate their efforts. I'm looking for the community to embrace the parade in the future more than ever."

The festival, held Jan. 18 through Sunday, also included such longtime traditions as an opening ceremony, senior citizens luncheon, high school step competition and leadership breakfast.

Thomas said the keynote speaker at the Jan. 18 opening ceremony at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center struck the right chord with his speech.

Roy Liburd, the pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church, recalled how King, as a young man, encouraged the nation to seek the American dream of freedom and opportunity for all.

"Dr. Liburd is an inspiring speaker," Thomas said. "He reminded us that it is a lot easier to enter a door that is held open. It is so much harder to reach through when the door remains closed to only a few."

Plant City Photo Archives provided a display of old photos of the local black community for the opening ceremony.

At the Jan. 19 step competition at the Marshall Middle School gymnasium, Tampa's Chamberlain High School won top honors and a $2,000 check. University High School in Orlando won $300 for its second-place finish.

"The step competition has become our signature event," Thomas said. "The competition is more heated each year. The crowds are very enthusiastic. With some local sponsorship we could attract some of the best schools from around the state."

The keynote speaker at Sunday's annual festival leadership breakfast was John Dicks, a former mayor and city commissioner who is running for Congress. Dicks recalled how he once visited the motel in Memphis, Tenn., where King was assassinated.

"It was truly a strange feeling to stand on that spot where King stood and look in the direction where the assassin had fired the shot," Dicks said to the crowd of about 180 people. "Dr. King had an effect on us all, black and white, young and old, male and female, each in our own special way."

Thomas said the leadership breakfast was a meaningful occasion.

"I am always most pleased with the multitude of generations at that breakfast," Thomas said. "We had people from 8 to 80 attending. They all show their courage to live that dream."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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