Music, tributes at Osage Community Centre kick off series of King events

Music and praise filled the Osage Community Centre on Thursday night as the eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Extravaganza kicked off a series of community events in honor of the late civil rights leader.

"For years before Dr. King's holiday was legislated in 1986, we celebrated everything on Dr. King's birthday, which will be tomorrow on the 15th. Even though we have been doing things on the holiday, we said we didn't want to bypass his birthday, so we started his birthday extravaganza," said Debra Mitchell-Braxton, executive director and founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. City-Wide Celebration Committee.

The birthday extravaganza featured musical and oratorical tributes and was especially appealing to the younger audience, Mitchell-Braxton said. She said events like this help prepare the next generation.

"These are our future leaders in America. We have to develop our youth and help them understand what went on in history and why we are able to be gathered here together in an integrated setting. It is left up to them to carry on the dream," she said.

Veteran extravaganza performer Robert L. White III of Cape Giradeau read a poem he wrote in honor of King. Titled "Transformation, aka Metamorphisis of Man," it discussed the importance of listening to others and taking an interest in their lives.

"Sometimes people just need someone to lend them an ear and help them understand. Dr. King was all about caring for your fellow man. He had a certain mission that he was trying to promote and if I can help further Dr. King's mission, then I have done my job. This is my personal tribute to Dr. King," White said.

Fourteen-year-old Brandon Wells sang a song titled "Follow the Drinking Gourd." The song, Wells said, instructed slaves how to travel to freedom. He said that while he had always enjoyed the song, he had never had the opportunity to perform it publicly before.

"I've always wanted to sing it, but I never had the right setting. A staff member at my school told me about the extravaganza and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it," the Central High School student said. He said upon accepting the invitation to perform, he immediately thought of this song and how it fit with the program.

Audience members said they enjoyed the performances and were surprised at the amount of talent in the area.

"There was fantastic talent," Brenda Baker of Jackson said. Baker's granddaughter performed with Central Middle School's choir.

While it was hard for some to pick a favorite performance, 8-year-old Peighton Robinson's rendition of "Freedom on My Mind" made an impression on at least one audience member.

"That little girl made the show," said Kim Hurt of Cape Girardea.

The event was free, but organizers did accept donations of canned food, toiletries and school supplies to be delivered to local agencies.