Newspaper Page Text
January 31,1985
The Wolverine Observer
Page 7
KING WEEK
1985
by Karon Ammons
The celebration was on I In
addition to several activities
honoring the life of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., "Martin," a
drama written and directed by
Lamar Alford, was presented at
King Chapel. Before a packed
house, students from every
school in the Atlanta University
Center depicted the black
struggle of the 1950's and 60’s
from the time Rosa Parks refused
to yield her seat to a white man
on December 1,1955, to the start
of the future of a young man,
Martin Luther Jones, who Was
born on the same day of King’s
death, April 4,1968.
Among the cast were six
students from Morris Brown
College. Lisa Maria Hill, Kelvin
Grayson, Mathew Bailey,
Kenneth Jones, Anquinette
Daniels, and Arnjah Dillard ex
pressed positive feelings about
their participation in the produc
tion. Though the students were
already aware of King's role in
the fight for civil rights, they
learned more from their ex
perience. Maria Hill, a
sophomore, had the opportunity
to sing a Negro spiritual in the
drama. She stated, “Oh
Freedom," at first, seemed like
just another spiritual to me, but
after "Martin,” it means much
more. It shows the determina
tion of a people to break all
chains and claim victory, even in
the face of death. The spirit now
prevails with me, thanks to
Lamar."
Lamar Alford had a lasting
effect on all the students.
Kenneth Johnson, a three-year
veteran of the "Martin" produc
tion, had this to say.
"It really was an experience
because he told us a lot about
King. Each rehearsal was more
like a lesson."
Anquinette Daniels, who like
most of the students is on a first
name basis with Alford said, "Oh
God, Lamar is an excellent
director! He taught me how to
focus. He made me more con
scious of the black people's
stuggle today. He taught us
togetherness. And that we were
a family."
It was evident that Alford's
efforts to produce a good perfor-,
mance from his actors ran even
deeper. Unity was the key.
According to senior, Kelvin
Grayson, "Alford tried to bring
about unity and he stressed the
importance of working
together."
Arnjah Dillard's synopsis of
Lamar Alford's message to the
students was, "You can't expect
to go through life walking in and
out of problems. You must look
at it, deal with it, master it, and
then go on."
This year’s Morris Brown par
ticipants would like to see more
involvement in the performing
arts from their institution. An
quinette Daniels stated, "Next
year I hope that more students
from Morris Brown College will
express their talents by par
ticipating in "Martin."
As director, Alford had to have
an effective cast to get his
message over to the people. He
felt that his theatre company,
The Performance Ministry of the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Inter
national Chapel, did a great job
this year. "I thought this year's
production was the best to
date," Alford said.
I n reaction to the performance
of the students that participated
from Morris Brown, he stated
that both Kelvin Grayson and
Kenneth Jones have been acting
with the company a long time.
He felt the Morris Brown par
ticipants were excellent. Alford
was particularly impressed with
new-comer Lisa Maria Hill. He
commented, "She could pursue
a career as a classical singer. With
the proper training, she could
become another Leontyne
Price."
In response to the inquiry of
what message he wanted to
convey through the production
he answered, "The power of
Christian love." He further
stated," 11 was a movement of the
people, not Martin alone. And
without them, there was no
movement. It wasn't just King,
but his impact on the people.
The torch was carried by the
masses."
In parting, Alford said, "The
Performance Ministry is open to
all students in the A.U.C. And the
students of Morris Brown
College are welcome to par
ticipate."
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Denver, Colorado, 1965
by Louisa McCullough
During the week of January 14,
many activities went on to com-
merate the life of the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. One of
those activities took place at
Morris Brown College and was
given by a Morris Brown
graduate.
The activity was the play "The
Life of A King” written by Arthur
Langford, Jr., President of the
United Youth Adult Conference
here in Georgia. He is also a
senator.
"The Life of A King" has been
performed over four-hundred
times throughout the nation and
this particular showing marked
the 15th anniversary of this
drama about the life of the late
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The playwright and portrayer
of Dr. King, Senator Langford,
was congratulated in his efforts
to keep the "Dream” alive by
many of those who take part in
Atlanta’s city government, in
cluding Fulton County Com
missioner, A. Reginald Eaves.
Eaves said, "The production, to
be staged at Morris Brown
College, Monday, January 14,
should be an experience to be
remembered for years to come...
The life and legacy of our leader,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. takes
on new meaning when given
artistic interpretation by the play
and these talented thesbians...
Thank you for giving the world
such a wonderful experience.
May "Life of A King" inspire us
forever!"
In an interview, Senator
Langford shared a few of his
ideas and thoughts concerning
the play. He felt very good about
bringing the play to his Alma
Mater and working with the
original cast, which he last work
ed with in 1969. When asked
what inspired him to write about
Dr. King, he said, "It was the love
of a great rhan who inspired
many others. It is important that
we should always remember Dr.
King, his holiday and do whatwe
can to make his dream a reality."
Senator Langford has dedicated
years of his life by studying and
researching Dr. King’s life
through the church and political
arena to come up with such a
play, and has put much into its
successful 15 year run.
Though the play was said to be
wonderfully written, dramatiz
ed, and attended, it had its
drawbacks. Many Morris
Bronites in attendance, though
few are hardly drama critics, gave
their opinions. One Brownite
was quoted saying, "The play
seemed like an average play
performed in the spur of the
moment." Another said, "I ex
pected to see the life of Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., from his
youth, to his leadership, and his
death." But many who attended
felt that this did not take place.
The play did have its
highlights, such as the solos sung
by Fulton County Sherriff,
Richard Langford, the portrayal
of the mourned mother of oneof
the children killed in the bom
bing of a Baptist Churh in
Montgomery Alabama, which
was portrayed by the Award
winning Actress from New York,
Betty Vaugh, and the "I Have A
Dream" speech by Dr. King,
portrayed by Senator Langford.
This speech was dramatized with
so much vitality, it set a tone of
realism in the play. “It was the
most powerful and realistic por
tion of the play. It made you feel
as if you were actually in the
setting with Rev. King," said one
Brownite.
"The Life of A King" was a
memorable play written by an
outgoing successful man about
another who played a strong part
in making the "Dream of
Freedom" a reality.
A.U.C. Youth
Remember King
by Timothy Tyler
"Students have always been a
catalyst for change," stated State
Representative Mable Thomas at
the Youth/Young Adult Motiva
tion Rally held on January 11,
1985 at the Martin Luther King Jr.
International Chapel,
Morehouse college. The theme
of the event was "Ending World
Hunga); Through Creative Non
violent Actions." This event was
in conjunction with the local and
national observance of Dr. Mar
tin Luther Kings’ birthday.
Headlining the occassion, was
a one-man show entitled "Fan
nie Lou Hamer: This Little
Light..." This dramatic presenta
tion, produced by the Southern
Women's Network, portrayed
the life of civil rights activist
Fannie Lou Hamer, as performed
by Billie Jean Young of Jackson,
Mississippi.
Special guest for the rally were
the Tougaloo College Gospel
Choir, Tougaloo, Mississippi.
The 45 member choir was in
Atlanta to take part in King Week
festivities.
Student government
representatives from all of the
Atlanta University Center
Schools were on hand to take
part in the rally, as well as Civic
and state leaders.