Coretta Scott King joins celebration of slain husband's life

About 1,500 King Center supporters joined the family of Martin Luther King Jr. Saturday night in celebrating the slain civil rights leader's life and legacy during the annual Salute to Greatness dinner at the Hyatt Regency.

His widow, Coretta Scott King, who suffered a stroke and heart attack last August, made a surprise appearance late in the evening, joining two of her children, Dexter and Yolanda King, who served as emcee for the evening.

The event was one of several held around metro Atlanta Saturday in honor of King's birthday. The 20th annual federal holiday set aside to honor King's life and work is Monday.

The event was "electrified" by the appearance of Mrs. King, said Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Southeastern Region Director Joe Beasley. "She looks wonderful. There was a kind of a buzz. I knew something was happening. She looks just as s tately as ever. Very alert. Everybody is absolutely thrilled. This is a special night made even more special."

Isaac Farris Jr., King's nephew, took the opportunity to offer assurances that the mission and work of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change remains strong. The center, founded by Mrs. King, will continue its work even if the buildings that currently house it are sold, said Farris, president and CEO of the King Center.

King's four children are currently split over whether to sell the facility to the federal government. The building needs more than $11 million in repairs. The absence of Martin Luther King III — who along with Bernice King don't believe the building should be sold — from Saturday night's festivities signal just how deep the division runs.

Farris acknowledged the very public spat, but suggested the change could allow the center to bring more focus to its work. He said to expect an announcement on the sale and the family rift this week.

"The King Center isn't for sale. The buildings are for sale," he said. "Our values and principals will never be sold. The King Center will be here long after you and I are gone."

The dinner program included a moment of silence in honor of the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks who died last year. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franlin and Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli were presented with the Salute to Greatness Award, the center's highest honor.

Franklin credits King and the civil rights movement for her success. She said she was both surprised and humbled to receive the award for her work as mayor, leadership in the city's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and push to help Atlanta high school seniors pursue post-secondary opportunities.

Said Franklin: "It just inspires me to do more."

Importance of education

Earlier in the day, the 70 or so kids who attended Martin Luther King Youth Day at Riverdale High School had plenty to say. Mostly, they spoke of the need to stop glamorizing black celebrities, such as 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg, and focus on education and improving the community.

"Education is something we so easily pass over," Xavier Ross, 15, a student at Riverdale High in Clayton County, told the Youth Day audience. "It's provided to us for free, and we need to take advantage of it."

Xavier said African-Americans growing up during the civil rights movement had to make do with ragged textbooks, while today, black students have access to computers. "We don't harness the education," he said. "I'm going to stay on education forever."

Saturday's event focused on how young people can use aspects of the hip-hop culture — such as creativity and entrepreneurial spirit — to impart the values of King and other civil rights activists. Business leaders, politicians and other African-Americans spoke to the students, who came from throughout metro Atlanta. Several adults noted the poor attendance. "If this was a party, everybody would have asked 10 or 20 people," businessman Remo Butler said.

Students said they are discouraged by how many peers emulate rap stars, often spending money on "grills," flashy gold and diamond accessories worn in the mouth like jewelry.

Yet much of what kids see in rap videos isn't real, said Illai Kenney, 16, a student at Jonesboro High. The luxurious homes are often rented. And those fancy cars are a poor investment, she said. "A lot of it is fake and false," she said, adding that performers may not get much money from their CD sales. "The rapper is at the bottom of the chain."

Several speakers noted that successful rap stars have said in interviews that they don't let their children watch their videos, yet they profit from other people's children who watch them.

Illai encouraged students to look at previous generations for inspiration.

"We need to be generating strong bonds with family and community," she said.

Daniel McCullough, 20, a student at Crim High in Atlanta, said successful blacks should help those who are struggling.

'Got to start in our community first'

"We've got to start in our community first," he said. "We've got to get people off the street. We've got to organize."

As young people talked about their generation's struggles, a small group of civil rights workers paid tribute to a legend — Hosea Williams, a King lieutenant during the 1960s.

Williams, who also was a state legislator, Atlanta City Council member and DeKalb County commissioner, died in 2000.

In gusty winds and temperatures that hovered near freezing, nine followers of Williams traveled to Cumming in Forsyth County to reflect on the historic 1987 marches that Williams led there against the Ku Klux Klan.

"We are still trying to unite the people and remember Hosea's legacy," said Matilda X, one of the march's organizers. "When they marched in 1987, they united the people."

Saturday's temperatures held down the crowd, she said. Organizers had expected more than 100 people to make the bus trip from Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to Cumming.

In Cumming, the nine marchers arrived at the Cumming Fair Grounds and marched to the Forsyth County Courthouse for a brief ceremony.

"I am not disappointed at all," said Matilda X, about the low turnout. "We are here. We can't let the weather stop us. Life is a struggle, regardless of how cold it is."