Still a long way to go in achieving justice, King Day speaker says

A capacity crowd of thousands gathered today to hear Bishop Lemuel F. Thuston speak at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the Reardon Convention Center, Kansas City, Kan.

Bishop Thuston, with a theme of “Reigniting the Dream: All Lives Matter,” briefly touched on some events of the past few years, such as protests following incidents in Ferguson, Mo., and other cities. He also briefly mentioned the upcoming presidential election.

There has been an awakening, a thawing, great stirring across the nation since the Ferguson, Mo., incident and a Florida incident, he said.

“There has been a cascading of incidents that have reminded us that we have come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” Thuston said.

There’s been a reigniting of the reality that there is yet much work to be done, he said. Racism, bigotry, high unemployment, fighting among the faith community, and an end to violence, are among the challenges that are faced.

About Martin Luther King Jr., Thuston said, “I choose to remember what he is doing, because one thing that is irrefutable: He did his part.”

Thuston noted that Martin Luther King Jr. came to Kansas City, Kan., and spoke at Sumner High School about 50 years ago.

Bishop Thuston said Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve, and the greatest is the greatest servant.”

The legacy of King is not just with big shots, leaders, the haves and the upper crust, he said.

“The legacy of King is there is a calling, there is an opportunity, there is a mandate and there is a chance for every one of us to do our part in Kansas City,” Thuston said.

He cited Martin Luther King Jr.’s message about becoming the best.

“If you’re going to be an artist, be a Picasso.” Thuston said. “Martin Luther King said if you’re going to be a scientist, be a Pasteur, be a Curie, be a George Washington Carver.”

But maybe you won’t be an artist, composer, or scientist, he noted. “Maybe you’ll just be a street sweeper,” Thuston said, citing a Martin Luther King Jr. message. “But if you become a street sweeper, sweep your street with all of your might. Sweep your street until the angels in heaven have to pause and see you and tell the Almighty, there goes the greatest street sweeper of all time.”

Thuston is the jurisdictional prelate of the Kansas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ.

Mayor Mark Holland, in remarks at the King Day celebration, mentioned the public safety diversity task force of the Unified Government. He said the UG started its process nine months before incidents started in Ferguson, Mo. The task force considered how the UG could do a better job at recruiting, hiring and promoting women and minorities.

Last May, 35 recommendations from Department of Justice task force on public safety diversity were approved that went into the UG budget for this year, he said.

“If we will just hire local, we will get the diversity we expect,” Mayor Holland said.

Youth from the Greater Pentecostal Temple performed selections at the event.

During the event today, funds were collected for scholarships for local students, and scholarships were presented.

To see a video of the MLK Mass Choir, visit https://www.facebook.com/WyandotteDailyNews/videos/1078857165500080/?video_source=pages_finch_main_video&theater