The Dream Lives On King Remembered at City Church Ceremony
 Coaster PhotoJamillah Joseph of Asbury Park opened the ceremony with a rendition of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. |
By TOM CARDINALE
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was commemorated with special services throughout the state on Monday and in Asbury Park, Reverend Aaron Gibson of the Second Baptist Church in Long Branch completed a rousing ceremony at Holy Spirit Church.
The service opened with a procession of local residents and officials taking part in the ceremony and marching to the sounds of traditional, West African M’Bolo drummers. Once the procession was complete three female M’Bolo dancers took to the aisle in brightly colored garb, performing a traditional West African dance.
Jamillah Joseph of Asbury Park then kicked off the ceremony with her rendition of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which prompted a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.
Following performances by a pair of choirs, the ED Ray Singers and the Seacoast Revival Mass Choir, a group of 20 prominent local residents read King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, each reading a portion before N’Kosi Oates, a member of the Neptune chapter of the New Jersey Orators, brought the crowd to their feet with a passionate recreation of King’s final lines of the speech.
 Coaster PhotoReverend Aaron Gibson of the Second Baptist Church in Long Branch was the keynote speaker. His speech concentrated on the need for Kings message in todays chaotic world. |
Finally Gibson took the stage to give his keynote speech but not before praising the church and injecting some humor into the day.
“I’m extremely grateful to Holy Spirit for having me here,” he said. “What a tremendous sanctuary this is.”
“Turn to your neighbor, smile at your neighbor, take your neighbor by the hand…don’t scare anyone,” he said to laughter from the crowd.
Gibson’s speech focused on the need for King’s message to remain alive and relevant in today’s turbulent world.
“Dreams can persevere through storms,” he said. “When we think about Dr. King’s dream today we are reminded that we are still in crisis mode.”
Gibson referenced people like Booker T. Washington and Colin Powell who came from poverty to achieve their dreams.
“A man without a dream lives a life without purpose or direction,” he said. “Dreams inspired by God can break down barriers.”
“Dr. King may be gone but his dream lives on,” he continued to boisterous responses. “Even in a world that doesn’t always treat us right we must embrace hate with love.”
Gibson closed his speech by saying that, if everyone embraced King’s message, “We can work together, live together, and walk toward freedom together.”
Contact Tom Cardinale at tom@thecoaster.net.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
