Inglewood, Carson Plan King Events

The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be celebrated with formal observances in Carson and Inglewood during the holiday weekend. The slain civil rights leader’s work will be recalled in speeches and memorialized in song. Inglewood also will hold a parade.

In Carson, the tribute to King will be held Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Carson Community Center, 3 Civic Plaza. The keynote address will be given by former Carson Mayor Gil Smith, who is director of government and public affairs with the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

Also speaking will be former National League baseball player Von Joshua, now a minor league manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, and the Rev. Raymond LeBlanc, pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Carson and president of the Carson branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. The winning essay in a writing contest among Carson sixth-graders will be read.

The entertainment Saturday will be highlighted by a live gospel music documentary, “I Have a Dream,” performed by youngsters in city recreation programs. In addition, there will be singing by the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ Choir and the Sound of Salvation Gospel Choir.

The Inglewood celebration will take place Monday to coincide with the official federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will begin with a half-mile march at 9 a.m., starting at the Great Western Forum, Prairie Avenue and Manchester Boulevard. The parade will move east on 90th Street, then south on Crenshaw Boulevard to the First Church of God, 9550 Crenshaw at Hardy Avenue.

Marchers will include schoolchildren, residents, business and community leaders, gospel choirs and the Inglewood Unified School District Band and Color Guard.

An ecumenical service highlighting King’s contributions will be held at 10 a.m. at the church. Benjamin F. Reid, the church’s senior pastor, will keynote the service. There will be singing by the 200-voice Inter-Denomination Choir, which performs widely in Southern California.

The service also will include the delivery of the three winning speeches in a contest for Inglewood schoolchildren at the elementary, junior high and high school levels. Winners of school essay and art contests also will be recognized.