Second Martin Luther King celebration a worthwhile endeavor

Frontiersman editorial board

Last year the Valley was treated to its first celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event was held at the Valley Performing Arts building, and was essentially a standing-room-only affair.

The event was such a success, this year's version has been moved to the Teeland Middle School Cafetorium. King's life, and his contributions to civil rights improvements in this country are celebrated the third Monday of each January.

The Valley celebrated last year with stories, music and with the voices of young people, sharing their views on one of the most influential Americans of the 20th Century.

This year's theme is "Remember the Past, Celebrate Community, Act for the Future." Valley residents Mahala Ashley Dickerson and Mary Lou Banks will both speak at the event. Dickerson and Banks both knew King before and during his involvement in the Civil Rights movement.

The importance of Dr. King's efforts, and the efforts of others who risked and sacrificed much to improve civil rights in the U.S. cannot be underestimated. Though Alaska sometimes seems far away from the most intense chapters of the civil rights saga, in truth, no place is far from the heart of the struggle for equality and justice. Alaska has a diverse population, and the struggles of minorities is no less significant or meaningful here than anywhere else. While there have been many voices in the fight to win that struggle, the voice of Martin Luther King remains one of the most important. His voice, during a time of violence and confusion, was one of hope and tolerance. His message resonates at least as loud now as it did then. The struggle for equality and justice is not a battle that can be won and left to history. It's a constant fight that must be fought every day, and King told us we could fight that battle with dignity, compassion and decency. The victories he won through peaceful means are longer lasting than anything achieved through violence -- because his path was as legitimate as his destination.

In a time when many people live in fear and suspicion, Dr. King's message is well worth another listen. We hope this year's event will again be standing-room-only, and we hope people will carry the message outside the hall and into the community. The event is scheduled for Jan. 19 from 2 to 3 p.m.