Terrebonne NAACP celebrates 'A Beloved Community' to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

This year marked the return of the Terrebonne NAACP branch’s return to in-person celebration for MLK Day.

Over 75 people gathered at the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse Square on a brisk Monday morning to listen to speakers and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy. The 2022 theme was “A Beloved Community.”

NAACP Youth Council President Eric Little was the emcee for the event.

“We are unified to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., his revolutionary vision and profound impact on America,” Little said.

Little evoked a quote from King saying, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward,” drawing parallels to what the community has faced with COVID and Hurricane Ida.

“No one knows resiliency better than the South,” Little said.

Youth Council Member Keiara Thomas described a beloved community as a community where people, regardless of background, come together with love and respect and seek justice for everyone in broader society.

“A beloved community is a place where people can live in peace and harmony. It is an affirmation of who we are and where we better ourselves,” Thomas said.

NAACP President Jerome Boykin took the opportunity to speak about the disenfranchisement still faced by the Black Community, such as federal level Republicans and one Democrat refusing to support the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to strengthen voting rights in the country.

“As we celebrate Dr. King - even today - Black folks are still catching hell,” Boykin said. “It takes all of us to participate and have justice for all.”

NAACP Executive Board Member Wayne Thibodeaux encouraged attendees to go back into their neighborhoods and encourage their peers to vote and show up to elections.

This year’s honorees were Rev. Kenneth Jackson, Rev. Mark Lewis, Rev. Blair Mitchell and Rev Stephen Mosely and Rev. Hayward Sims Jr.

Sims was also the main speaker at the event. He took the podium to say that inequities such as homelessness and hunger, to discrimination such as bigotry, racism and prejudice will not be tolerated in a beloved community.

“We must have love for each other,” Sims said.

Attendee Stacy Wheaton described what MLK day means to her.

“It’s where everyone, every race is united and there’s equal opportunity for everyone,” Wheaton said.

Following the celebration, 25 attendees led by Tri-Parish military veterans and NAACP leaders marched down to Dumas auditorium.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Terrebonne NAACP celebrates 'A Beloved Community' for MLK Day