Category Archives: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Dr. King’s Church Ebenezer Baptist Church Hosts ‘Worship in Wakanda’ Today Ahead of Tonight’s Oscars!

Hello World,

Tonight is the Superbowl of the movie industry! In other words, the 91st Academy Awards aka The Oscars, as fraught with controversy as it may be and has been, is tonight at 8 pm! Of all of the nominees, I’m most interested in “Black Panther” as a nominee for Best Picture! “Black Panther” was the highest grossing film of 2018 and was the third highest grossing film in the United States EVER and should definitely win tonight!

And if you did not know, “Black Panther” was filmed in Atlanta, which has been called the real Wakanda, the fictional destination in the movie where black excellence is fostered and celebrated every day of the year not only during Black History Month! I don’t know if this on purpose, but Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King and his father Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. served as pastors, is hosting “Worship in Wakanda” today at its church services.

And here I am in my African garb to see the movie!

According to the flyer, on this Black Emphasis Sunday, African heritage, highlighting black genius and creativity, will be honored. Also, members are being encouraged to wear Afr0-centric or Afro futuristic attire. And “Black Panther” costume designer Ruth E. Carter could be the first black person to win an Oscar for costume design if she wins tonight! Remember when erebody was posting pics of themselves in African garb to see the movie? #WakandaForever!

Another Atlanta hero and civil rights giant Congressman John Lewis will be one of the best picture presenters tonight!

And speaking of civil rights, today begins the last week that the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta is free to visit! Coca Cola paid the admission for all to visit for free during Black History Month! I’ve visited and what I loved the most is seeing the collage of mug shots of the young people of all races who were willing to be arrested for the cause of civil rights back in the ’60s. Some of them looked as young as my 17-year-old nephew…

Anywho, I’m watching the Oscars tonight! What about you?

Any thoughts?

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The King Center Gears Up for the 51st Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service…

Hello World,

Aside from Christmas and Easter, one of my favorite holidays is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday which the country if not the world will celebrate tomorrow. All over the country, there will be events celebrating the life and legacy of the great civil rights leader but no place celebrates Dr. King like his hometown here in the A. I believe the highlight of the celebratory events in Atlanta is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service which is held in Dr. King’s home church of Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Horizon Sanctuary. Below is the schedule for the service which has and continues to include dignitaries from all over the globe.

Keynote Speaker: 
Mr. Bryan Stevenson
Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative
Featured speakers delivering special tributes:
Emma Gonzalez, activist, advocate, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Ms. Britney Packnett, Activist, Educator, Writer
Rev. Jentezen Franklin, Senior Pastor, Free Chapel Worship Center
Rev. Dr. Billy Kim, Former President, Baptist World Alliance
Samia Nkrumah, (Daughter of Kwame Nkrumah, First
President of Ghana) will bring the international greeting
Special Musical Performances:
Minister BeBe Winans, Multi-Grammy Award Winning Artist
Minister Angella Christie, Gospel Saxophonist
Jahi Di’Allo and Daiyann Winston, Singer, Actor, Stage Performers
Far East Broadcasting Children Choir, (Korean Christian Choir)
Rapper Ray Emmanuel, Youth Artist

To find out more information about how the King Center is celebrating the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday, click on thekingcenter.org.

Also, due to the government shutdown the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park was supposed to be closed tomorrow as the National Park Service maintains the park. However, due to a grant from Delta Air Lines and other funds, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park opened on Saturday and will remain open throughout the Super Bowl which will be held in Atlanta on Feb. 3!

In a statement, Delta CEO and trustee of the Delta Air Lines Foundation Ed Bastian said the group “felt it was important we do our part to ensure that the historical landmarks be accessible to the public.”

“Dr. King was about bringing people together and at Delta, we are about making the world a smaller place,” he added.

To read the entire story, click on the CNN story “MLK national park will reopen during government shutdown with help of Delta Air Lines” by Nicole Chavez.

How will you be celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King tomorrow?

Any thoughts?

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New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant & Members Give Approximately $300 Each to Members Affected By Government Shutdown…

Hello World,

As this is the Government Shutdown, the longest one in history, continues, many federal workers are in need of cash plain and simple. But thankfully, many churches and other benevolent organizations and people are stepping up and giving money to federal workers in need.

Tom Jones of WSB-TV reported that New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, led by its new pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant, in Lithonia, Georgia is helping fellow members whose paychecks have been affected by the Government Shutdown. See the video for yourself:

To read the story, click on THIS LINK!

In addition to New Birth, other metro Atlanta churches are helping members affected by the government shutdown. Check out an excerpt of this article from the AJC below:

On Sunday, the Rev. Wilbur Purvis asked how many members of his congregation were affected by the partial government shutdown.

Several raised their hands.

The pastor of Destiny World Church in Austell prayed for them, but something in his heart told him to do more.

A few days later, he handed out $500 checks to five people.

To read the entire article, click on “Atlanta Churches, Faith Groups Help Furloughed Federal Workers” by Shelia M. Poole & Janel Davis.

Here in Atlanta, the government shutdown has also affected how the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 21 will be celebrated as National Park Service employees have been furloughed. The service runs the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which is now closed. Had Dr. King lived, he would have been 90 years old yesterday. His youngest daughter Dr. Bernice King nearly choked up talking about the absence of National Park Service.

All that being said, you don’t have to be a member of a megachurch or a King to have compassion on federal workers affected by the Government Shutdown, one of my FB friends said he slipped a TSA member some cash at the airport. I bet that simple gesture was appreciated…

Any thoughts?