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Service celebrates wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr.

3 min read
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Pastor Debra Mason gives the keynote address at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration service Sunday in West Washington United Methodist Church.

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The Mt. Olive Baptist Church choir performs several selections at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service at West Washington United Methodist Church Sunday night. The Friendship Baptist Church and St. Paul AME Church choirs also sang during the service.

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Zhiere Patmon and Rashida Reed both spoke at the service. Zhiere spoke on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work while Rashida shared a poem she wrote.

A lot of love and wisdom were expressed in West Washington Methodist Church Sunday evening for a man with a lot of love and wisdom.

“We’re celebrating a great man, a man who fought for freedom and justice for all. We should love the work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his love for humanity,” the Rev. Henry Billingsley, master of ceremonies, said in kicking off the Washington Branch of the NAACP’s annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Iconic quotes from the iconic civil rights leader, biblical passages, messages of unity and choir music also abounded during the 2½-hour ceremony inside the Fayette Street house of worship – on the eve of the national holiday honoring King.

A crowd of about 200 participated, roused by inspirational words from all speakers and the powerful messages and wonderful wit of Debra Mason, pastor of Washington’s John Wesley United Methodist Church.

“I have a dream,” she said, using King’s signature expression a number of times to introduce contemporary topics she wanted to address. “The dream is to not be judged by the color of your skin, but the content of your character.”

She addressed instances of racial tension that occurred in 2014 and spoke about a number of her own encounters with discrimination, including job searches. She would end each personal anecdote with, “That’s what you call discrimination.”

“As an African American, I have memories of not being treated fairly. And that’s not just from years ago, but several weeks ago.”

Mason told the audience to believe in God as well as themselves.

“You are what you think you are,” she said. “If you eat junk, you will have a junky body. If you think junk, well …

“I can keep the dream alive no matter what happens to me. I have a higher source.”

Then, appealing to the crowd, she shouted: “Do you want to keep the dream alive? Then raise your hands.”

Most did.

Between speakers, choirs from Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Canonsburg and Friendship Baptist and St. Paul AME churches of Washington sang in a spirited, spiritual manner, inspiring hand-clapping from many.

Two African-American students from Washington High School were among the 12 speakers. Rashida Reed and Zhiere Patmon provided a younger perspective on a man who was slain nearly 47 years ago.

“Dr. King lived during a time of segregation, when no one thought black kids and white kids would go to school together,” Patmon said. “Now I go to school not only with white kids, they’re some of my best friends.

“We can march through Washington and say end violence against white and black people. It’s up to us to keep his dream a reality.”

Reed, who enjoys poetry, read a poem she had written that paid homage to King, a man whose words, she said, “were so powerful.”

She said, “He’s one of our African-American leaders who helped shape the lives we lead today.”

A lot of memorable sentiments were expressed during the celebration. One that was expressed early on resonated throughout the celebration. It was from Billingsley, past president of the NAACP branch.

“There’s no color in heaven. It’s all in the soul.”

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