Celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. begins locally

If the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us anything, it may be that one voice can inspire masses.

One boy, singing King's name in a clear voice and reciting the story of the beloved Baptist minister who inspired a nation to change how it treated many of its people, captured the attention of nearly 500 guests Thursday night at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Between each sentence, 11-year-old Quitman McBride III, uttered a soulful, "Dr. Martin," as he opened the performances at the second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Extravaganza.

He put together the musical history with only a day's notice, having researched Dr. King on the Internet with his family the night before, he said.

The civil rights leader, slain in 1968, would have been 75 years old.

"I didn't know it would turn out as good as it sounded," said McBride, who's been singing since he was 3 years old.

The evening's student performances celebrated Dr. King and the nation's civil rights movement. The event was sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. City Wide Celebration Committee. Other performers included the Cape Girardeau Middle and Junior High Choir, the Cape Junior High Seventh Grade Percussion Group, the Cape Middle School Bengal Beat Drummers, the Rhema Word Choir, soloists Tylar Kennedy and Ramona Robinson and others. Oratorical tributes were also made.

When McBride later performed "Amazing Grace," many people swayed along to the melody or hummed along.

Fourteen-year-old Angel Gaither of Cape Girardeau smiled, closed her eyes and shed a few tears. Hearing McBride brought back a family memory.

"My great-grandma died a couple of months ago," she said. "And my auntie sang that at her memorial, and I'd never heard it before then. It was beautiful."

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160

Want to go?

Observances in Cape Girardeau:

19th Annual Memorial Breakfast

When: Monday, doors open at 7:30 a.m.

Where: Show Me Center, 1333 N. Sprigg

3rd Annual Humanitarian Luncheon

The Dr. C. John Ritter Humanitarian award will be presented. Call 334-0646 for reservations

When: Monday, doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Osage Community Centre

8th Annual Youth Gala

Area youth will give musical, oratory and theatrical performances.

When: Monday at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, J.C. Penney foyer

14th Annual Community Celebration

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Services will be presented.

When: Monday at 7 p.m.

Where: Second Baptist Church, 835 Beaudean