Community Corner

Culver City Celebrates King Day

Over 300 residents and visitors gathered at the Culver City Senior Center to pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King at Culver City's 7th annual King Day celebration on Sunday.

“Dr. King’s vision would be a world without prejudice, hate, or discrimination. . . We try to make people more accepting towards each other.  Dr. King’s dream did not fully come true. We keep it in mind that a hate-free world is better for everyone.  Hopefully we will melt away the arrogance and the hate with Dr. King’s legacy and his message.”

Excerpt from Barbara Gamboa’s “Achieving the Dream” Essay 

Over 300 residents and visitors gathered at the to pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King at Culver City’s 7th annual King Day celebration on Sunday, Jan. 16. 

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The day-long community event opened with UCLA Professor Scot Brown giving an historical perspective on Dr. King’s contributions followed by a panel discussion based on the event’s theme, “Have We Achieved Dr. King’s Dream?”  The discussion was moderated by CCUSD Board member Patricia Siever and panelists included Congresswoman Diane Watson, Culver City Mayor Michael O’Leary, syndicated columnist Dr. Anthony Samad, former Culver City Unified School District Board member Saundra Davis and USC scholar Daniel Lee.  

Mayor O’Leary recounted a personal experience he had when he first arrived in the United States that led him to the conclusion that, although we’ve come a long way, Dr. King’s dream still has yet to be fully realized.

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Performance Artist and Poet Charlotta “Sista” C. Ferrell read poetry and led a participatory exercise that explored how in tune audience members were with the principles and visions expressed by Dr. King.

Winners of the “Have We Achieved Dr. King’s Dream?” speech contest Malik Johnson of Culver City Middle School, Peri Reynaldo of El Rincon Elementary School and Barbara Gamboa  of Culver Park High School, read their essays. 

Musical entertainment was provided by Culver City High School Jazz Combo, Culver City High School Choral Singers led by Dr. Tony Spano, and the West Los Angeles Jazz Emsemble conducted by Phillip Small. 

One of the many highlights of the day’s festivities, was the reading of Christina Harley’s award-winning play, “The Dreamers,” starring Margaret Avery and Art Evans.  There was also an exhibit of historical memorabilia courtesy of the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum.


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