ST. MARTINVILLE — A St. Martinville celebration of the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. , with a resounding theme of never giving up, began at the flagpole on Sunday afternoon in front of St. Martinville Junior High School, where visiting clergy led attendees in a group prayer and American Legion Post 419 led a flagpole ceremony. 

Then St. Martinville Junior High band members played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

From the flagpole, participants marched a few blocks to the school gym for an afternoon of programing to honor and remember the civil rights leader. It is the fourth year the African American Museum Foundation has sponsored the program, according to Curator and Museum Director Danielle Fontenette. 

“We have a program of singing, dancing and oration, all to honor Dr. Martin Luther King,” said Charter Member of the African American Museum Foundation Helen James Bourda, who greeted participants at the gymnasium door. 

“This is for all people. This is for all mankind — not just blacks. This is a celebration of America’s victory — all of America’s victory — over oppression and injustice and a victory for all human rights,” she said, pointing to a sign that read: “March On, People. Non-Violence For—” then read off the list, pointing to each ideal as she did: 

“For human rights, for civil rights, for peace, justice, for freedom of religious belief — for all mankind!” she said. 

Ciera White sang “I Believe I Can Fly” and Kaylee Ledet lead an impromptu, call-and-response rendition of “Until the War is Won.” She urged student Christopher Thibodeaux into an unplanned snare drum accompaniment, and within a few beats his young colleague Quentin Bradley joined in on the bass drum. 

Girls from the St. Martinville Junior High Glee Club performed an African dance led by Christine Neveu. 

Members of the museum foundation board sat to the right of the podium, and a group of distinguished guests sat to the left. From that latter group, several people were given Martin Luther King Jr. awards for their accomplishments in the St. Martinville community.. 

Delaney Johnson, a barber and the proprietor of the D.J. Kutz barber shop, at 1011 Knight St., was presented an award for “outstanding loyalty and longevity in business.” 

“This feels like winning a Grammy,” Johnson said after the ceremony. 

“It’s awesome, especially that it’s given by the community, and in honor of Dr. King. There is a lot that comes from the barber shop. It’s more than a haircut,” he said. “There’s a lot of counseling that goes on there, a lot of conversations with youngsters. With everything that’s going on in the community, it’s a place to come unwind. You have to be a role model, and you have to be an ear to the community.”

Pamela Jordan, who after a career in public education — teacher, assistant principal, principal — is director of federal programs for the parish school system, was given the award for her “ongoing commitment to public education.”

“This is a memento of never giving up on your dreams,” Jordan said. “It reaffirms my ideals — never stop educating yourself, and be a role model for those coming after you.”

Several guest speakers spoke about overcoming discrimination at a prominent, Lafayette-based employer. 

“I refused to allow a racist supervisor to determine my fate,” said Delana Owens, who in 2012 founded Owens Developmental Learning Center, where she helps more than 150 children. “Keeping the dream alive is up to you and me,” she said. 

Parks Mayor K.J. Kately, the first black mayor of the village, said he had a similar experience with that employer, and with several others. 

“It still happens,” Kately said. 

“You have to give 300 percent more than someone else. But I didn’t quit. I never gave up,” he said. “Don’t quit. If you have a goal in mind, go for it.” 

Kately said he was inspired to see young black men running for local office, singling out St. Martinville City Councilman Edmond Joseph, seated among the distinguished guests. Joseph was elected to the council early in 2017 and was sworn into office that May at age 32.     

“This is what it’s all about — young African Americans making this move. Back in the day, the thought was, ‘This is a white man’s world.’ Not any more,” he said. 

“We can go high if we put our minds to it.” This is a political year, he said. “Please, go out there and vote.”  

Both speakers were a great honor to the legacy of King, Fontenette said after the program.

“The speeches were what was needed to be said,” she said. “It could not have been any better.”