Annual MLK Breakfast
Some of Holly Springs most energized and vocal speakers garnered much applause at the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Commemoration of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Monday, Jan. 20, held at the Eddie Lee Smith Multi-Purpose Center.
The theme for this year’s ceremony was “All In.” Vivian Gulledge introduced keynote speaker Rodney Lowe as “someone sometimes misunderstood.”
Lowe, president of the Marshall County Chapter of the NAACP, was described as a talented rap artist, dedicated servant, and champion for justice, equality, and opportunity for all.
Rodney embodies through his actions a force for positive change, building bridges across generations, Gulledge said.
She said he is patient, positive and persistent.
Eleven year old Jessie Myers was allowed to speak on the meaning of the celebration, emphasizing the March On Washington, led by the famed martyr.
Lowe led off and ended his speech on the theme “All In,” in which he recited some of his accomplishments going back as far a playing football in Holly Spring High School. He spoke of how MLK influenced his life.
“I have always lived in the City of Holly Springs,” he said. “I have always been All In.” He played four years of varsity football, never missing a practice, but said, with humor, “I never won a game, but I was All In.” He sat on the front row in class, graduated with honors, and attended Rust College.
“I was All In,” he said. Hard times struck and Lowe said he redirected his energies into becoming a master barber, setting up his business first in Memphis, Tenn., and then returning back to Holly Springs with his business, setting up his shop in every ward. “Every time my business began to grow, my rent grew,” he said.
Extending the theme, Lowe said teachers, politicians, lawyers, hustlers, etc., have to be All In, “if they want to compete the liberation of our people.”
“We have to reform ourselves, reform our hoods, returning the neighborhoods so kids can grow and be safe,” Lowe said. “We should form a united front and don’t let nothing stand below us. That’s Black Power, a motion toward objectives in the best interests of Black people.
“We have to think, plan and speak for the whole. Unapologetic Black is not anti-white. We are here to honor him, Dr. King, who died for us. We should be the most serious people on the planet and try to move Black people forward.”
He said spiritual weakness at the top is ruining this country and ruining this city.
“I represent the whole,” he repeated.
He said he is stepping down as president of the NAACP for the last six years to run for mayor of Holly Springs.
He said King was nonviolent, but confrontational.
“When I fight for the whole, I may offend you,” Lowe said.
Johnnie Houston said people speak much of the movement but by the time it develops, the words have no substance.
Making an analogy to food that has no nutritional value, Houston said, “Unless your are ingesting things, words have no value.
“We have to use that energy,” she said. “People say, `I don’t know what my purpose is.’” She said unless energy is being invested in the words, they are meaningless.
“Maybe you should be exerting some energy, into that. My purpose now is to help children, grandchildren to be what God wants them to be. Black people are starting to say, enough is enough. Nobody is free until we all are free,” she said.
“I say to my people, put your stake in the sand. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Stop getting distracted. Remember there is another plan. I’m tired of the same thing. I know how it works, so I’m not easily fooled. We are going to have to do like Martin did.”
She said a city and county should not depend on other cities or counties for what they need.
She said when people do their shopping outside the county, get their medical help outside the county, buy their car outside the county or their food they are not helping themselves.
“I leave this with you. If you want to see a change, you gotta be a change agent,” she said.