In Honor of Martin Luther King : Music, Displays to Mark Birthday of Slain Leader

South Bay residents will observe the birthday of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. this week with a variety of activities, including performances by gospel groups, displays, essays and recitations of King’s better known speeches.

Gardena will begin its commemorative activities today with a display on King’s life at Rowley Park, 13220 S. Van Ness Ave. The program, which starts at 7 p.m., will include skits and music performed by local students.

The city’s main program will be at Nakaoka Memorial Community Center, 1700 West 162nd St. at 7 p.m. Saturday. The evening’s activities will include essay reading, choral groups, dance numbers and a speech by Dennis Deloach, editor and publisher of Heritage magazine, a quarterly publication featuring black culture and history.

The city of Inglewood will feature Georgia State Sen. Julian Bond as keynote speaker for its activities at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Darby Park, 3400 W. Arbor Vitae St.

Singer Vicky McClure, who performed “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” at the 1984 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies, will re-create her rendition of that song. She will be followed by student singers and bands from local schools. In addition, the Keith Pringle Pentecostal Community Choir will perform gospel music and Inglewood High School 10th grader Byron Scott will recite King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Movies, art, and other displays depicting the life and career of King will follow the Inglewood ceremony, together with an open house and refreshments.

Activities on Saturday for the city of Carson will include performances by several gospel groups, a tribute to King read by poet Jerome Lester, and readings by finalists in the Freedom for All Mankind essay contest for Carson sixth grade students.

The Carson program, which begins at noon on Saturday in Avalon Park, 700 E. Gardena Blvd., will also feature former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing and performances by the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theater and the Earl Palmer Jazz Quintet.

Model Airplanes

On display at the park will be an array of World War II model airplanes, of the type flown by the nation’s first black military aviators, the Tuskegee Airmen, along with art displays on King’s life.

The day’s activities in Carson, which continue until 5 p.m., will include amusements, rides and games.

Federal observance of the King holiday will not begin until next year, but city and county agencies can elect to close their offices on either the federally designated holiday, which is Jan. 21, or on the traditional holiday, Jan. 15, which is King’s birthday.

Inglewood City Hall will close on Jan. 21, as will all Los Angeles County offices. Carson will close its offices on Jan. 15. Other South Bay city offices will remain open on both days.