When I was working full-time (day job), I always looked forward to having the Martin Luther King holiday as a day off. Actually, the day is to be a day of service and not a day of shopping. Today I served as the emcee for the 25th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast and Program. It felt like old times when I attended this event for the newspaper and radio stations I worked for in the past. As always, it was a very cold morning, but the standing-room-only crowd was friendly and in good spirits. Many young college students were assigned to attend as a service project, but I believe they enjoyed the hot breakfast and learned something from each speaker. The program was held at Bethel AME Church on Webster in the Hill District. Bethel AME is the oldest Black church west of the Allegheny Mountains, a church that has been part of every revolutionary movement in the history of the United States since 1808. This annual program is presented by the Homer S. Brown division of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and in the spirit of Dr. King, a Drum Major for Justice Award is presented to an individual or group who have made significant contributions to social justice and equality. The award is named after a sermon delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which he spoke of the “drum major instinct”—the desire to be recognized for one’s achievements. This year’s Drum Major for Justice Awardee was Jerry Dickinson, Esq. Professor Dickinson serves as Vice Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Professor Dickinson is a former congressional candidate. In 2020 and 2022, he ran for Democratic nominations in two high profile federal elections for Pennsylvania’s 12th and 18th Congressional Districts on platforms involving racial justice, healthcare reform, climate change, gun control, criminal justice reform, and affordable housing. Jerry Dickinson accepted his award with his wife and daughters at his side.
Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com
Click Here to View All “Lifestyles with Debbie Norrell” Articles
One Response to How Did You Spend MLK Day? by Debbie Norrell