A birthday celebration fit for a King
Gary Moskowitz
A Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at Forest Lawn this weekend will
honor the famed civil rights leader through art, speeches and live
music.
Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries’ second annual Martin
Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in the
Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn
Drive, Los Angeles.
The event will honor the life, legacy and dream of America’s most
revered civil rights leader, said Paula Boger, the event’s
coordinator. King would have been 75 this year.
The event is free and open to the public.
“It will be very unique,” Boger said. “The whole point is to keep
the dream of excellence and service to mankind alive. There were many
facets to [King’s] dream. Not just racial justice, but excellence, no
matter what you do in life, and trying to be the best you can be.
“We want people to leave with the feeling that they are helping
keep [King’s] legacy alive,” Boger said.
Kendrick “Ice” McDonald, the Mr. Black America Assn.’s 2003
Entertainer of the Year, will perform a dramatic interpretation of
King’s vision. Beverly White, a KNBC-TV news reporter, will serve as
emcee for the 90-minute program.
A 78-piece photo exhibit created by Benedict Fernandez called
“Countdown to Eternity” will feature photos of King. Documentary film
footage of King’s speeches will also be shown at the event. The photo
exhibit will be kept on display at the Hall of Liberty through
February, which is Black History Month.
Rev. Robert Bock, pastor of the First Christian Church of North
Hollywood, will speak during the celebration, as will D. Marie
Battle, president of League of African American Women. Singer
Henrietta Davis will sing several songs in tribute to King, Boger
said.
Local and area schoolchildren have been invited to attend the
event, Boger said.
“I really think [the celebration] will be amazing to people,”
Boger said.