Delivering on the promises of the Dream

Four standing in front of MLK quotes

By Rev. Donald E. Anthony

Robert E Anthony
Robert E Anthony

CABARRUS COUNTY - Cabarrus County kicked off it’s 2020 week-end celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Saturday, January 19, 2020 at 7:30am with a prayer Breakfast hosted by Bethel Baptist Ministries. By the time the program began at 9am more than 300 people were in attendance.

Mr. Jim Embry, often called an “eco-activist,” or labelled as “Black and Green,” served as keynote speaker. As an activist, for the past 50 years he has participated in most of the major social movements of his era: Civil Rights, rights of students, Black Power, environmental issues, for Anti-war and Peace, women’s, disability, Inter-faith, food justice and local foods concerns. In 1972 Embry was a founding member of Good Foods Co-operative, and in 2018 helped establish the worker co-operative Wild Fig Bookstore, both in Lexington, KY. He now serves as Director of Sustainable Communities Network (sustainlex.org) and cultivates collaborative efforts at the local, national and international levels with a focus on food systems.

During his message, Embry shared part of his life story and the importance of not only remembering Dr. King, but “Delivering on the Promises of Dr. Kings Dream.”

The breakfast included the recognition of young trailblazers from the community and prayers offered by Rev. Marcus Singleton, a United Methodist Church member; Rev. Jackie Whitefield, a member of All Saints Episcopal Church; and Dr. Melvin Douglass, president of Barber Scotia College.

Additional Activities of the week end included a Youth Enrichment Health & College Fair at Logan Multi-Purpose Center in Concord; the r. MLK Jr. Parade that kicked off on Union Street with the Honorable Judge Boger Allen, the first African American Judge in Cabarrus County serving as Grand Marshall; Stuff the Bus Food Drive on MLK Plaza; MLK Legacy Celebration Monday using the theme ”Vision, Voices & Victories in Unity,” at Logan Multi-Purpose Center, a book signing by Norman McCullough on the life and legacy of “Warren C. Coleman; a Wreath Laying Memorial Service at 12:00, and a MLK Legacy celebration at the Logan Recreational Center.

Plans are already underway for “Celebration 2021.”