News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville-Putnam County NAACP planning its celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16th.
Branch President Tom Savage said the keynote speaker will be Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP. He said they also plan on serving a hearty breakfast at the Algood United Methodist Church to help people begin the day in the right way.
“We do the breakfast so that we can honor him early in the day and then everyone that participates can go on and do something during the day to help their fellow man,” Savage said. “Just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did. It’s a day of service.”
Savage said other guests will include Katie Wood, who will do a presentation on the banjo. He said some may not know the banjo is an instrument with direct ties to Black history. He said local resident Morris Irby will recite Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
Savage said all from the community are welcome to attend and to honor Dr. King’s legacy. He said they have invited local leaders, churches, and all from the community.
“We always want to emphasize Dr. King’s work from a non-violent approach to lift of people of color in the United States,” Savage said. “As you know, coming out of Jim Crow, helping implement Brown vs. Board of Education and the integration of schools, and just you know, making sure we’re able to vote. At that time we were not able to vote, and in 1964 with the Civil Rights Act, which he played a major role in. And just bringing about harmony in America through peace and love.”
