Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Nearly 50 Kern Valley residents gathered at the Kernville United Methodist Church on Monday, Jan. 18, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn., at the peak of the decade’s political and social unrest.

The Rev. Lauren Chaffee, of the Kernville United Methodist Church, gave a moving summary of the events in Dr. King’s life, speaking of how his oratory and actions empowered the civil rights movement at a critical time in U.S. history. Chaffee included the famous incident of Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus, an act she said was inspired by King.

Ted Little, of Kernville, spoke to a group of about 50 Kern Valley residents gathered to remember and reaffirm the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Kernville United Methodist Church Monday.

Chaffee described King’s commitment to equality for all, his use of non-violent, peaceful means to inspire the nation.

The reverend spoke about Aug. 28, 1963, a day when 250,000 people, marched in Washington, D.C., for peace, freedom, and equality; this included 75,000 white men and women who marched from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, too.

On that hot summer day King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, calling his fellow black Americans “exiles in our own land,” and daring them to change that fact. It was a defining moment of the American civil rights movement.

“I invite us to renew our commitment to his dream,” Chaffee said.

Ted Little, of Kernville, was at the National Mall that day in 1968; he told the crowd of about 50 people of his experience marching with King.

Little explained that in the time when he grew up, segregation was the reality of life, and he was thrilled when in 1954, while attending UCLA, he had the honor of casting a vote for the first black president in the University of California system.

In March 1968, Ted, along with eight college friends, took sleeping bags and traveled to Washington, D.C., where they studied peaceful resistance and marched down Pennsylvania Ave. to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Little was emotional, remembering the military police meeting the crowd, and reading a proclamation from then-President Lyndon Johnson. The proclamation barred King from delivering his prayer there.

“But he did it anyway,” said Little. “Less than a month later, King was assassinated and LBJ made him a national hero.”

Local musicians John Henry, Gary Amstutz, Bob Bergeron played “We Shall Overcome” and “Blowin’ in the Wind,” as the crowd sang. The ceremony closed with the musicians, accompanied by vocalist Georgie Bergeron. Everyone was invited to contribute to the drawing, exhibiting their hopes and dreams for the nation.

The eight children in attendance each did their own drawings, and they were all exhibited on the freedom wall to be viewed by everyone on their way out.

Linda Block read a children’s book about King’s life and his guiding principles. The feelings evoked by King’s dream were very real for the group, showing how deeply his message has resonated through the ages to those who have listened.