MLK Jr. celebration includes music, poetry

Poets, an a cappella group and young jazz musicians came together for the sixth annual “He Was a Poem, He Was a Song” celebration Monday night to commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The event kicked off the week-long Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, an extension of Monday’s holiday in recognition of the civil rights leader’s life.

The week’s events include a speech today by Cleve Jones, who will touch on his experiences as an activist for AIDS and gay causes and his promotion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideals about equality. The week’s activities center around actor Danny Glover’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture on Thursday.

Monday’s program opened with music from the Triad Youth Jazz Society, a group of students ages 8 to 18 who work to preserve jazz music in the community.

The eight students, whose instruments included a saxophone, trumpet, trombone and flute, received a standing ovation after their final performance.

“I felt honored and privileged,” said Alan Thompson, a high school senior who plays the saxophone. “It’s a good thing that we can all get together, especially for a person like Martin Luther King Jr.

“I was elated that anybody would give me such an opportunity.”

The night included two performances by poet Teresa Church, who spoke about growing up during the civil rights era.

“I think a poet writes a picture for the soul that can be locked away and evaluated years later,” Church said.

She added that she enjoys sharing her experiences with younger generations who didn’t get to experience King’s work firsthand.

The event also included two performances from the a cappella group Tar Heel Voices, three poems from poet and former UNC medical school dean Marion Phillips and one from 7-year-old Sophia Bowers.

“We’ve had a great response from people,” said the event’s director, Ursula Littlejohn. “They really enjoy the creative aspect, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.”

Event directors said they were pleased with the event, which drew about 175 students, faculty members and members of the Triangle community.

“We brought in all generations, all members of the community and people from all walks of life,” said Joseph Jordan, director of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center.

He said Monday’s performances serve as an opening for the week-long celebration.

Celebrating for a week is part of the character of the holiday, he said, and acknowledges how important it is to remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles throughout the year.

The event was sponsored by the Stone Center and Friends of the Library.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.