By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
The Needham Diversity Initiative in cooperation with Needham Human Rights Committee, Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, and The Needham Public Schools and it’s METCO Program sponsored the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at Needham High School on Monday, January 20.
The event began as Odessa Jackson, the host of the event, came to the podium to greet all attendees and speak on the theme for this year's event: “The theme is of hope for Martin Luther King Jr… Anyone can make a difference in this world by serving others… Service is a way to change the world.” Jackson then invited Ramin Abrishamian, a Needham Diversity Initiative member to come to the podium. Abrishamian was supposed to be alongside former State Representative Denise Garlick, though due to poor weather conditions, Garlick was unable to be present. Abrishamian came up for a moment of remembrance for William “Smitty” Smith, who was the principal organizer of the State Bill establishing Race Amity Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Garlick had worked alongside Smith to establish Race Amity Day after meeting him at a previous celebration of MLK Day in Needham. Abrishamian shared that Garlick had stated: “I thank NDI for all it’s work, including bringing Dr. Smith to Needham.”
Elected officials such as State Senator Rebecca Rausch, State Representative Josh Tarsky, and Select Board Vice-Chair Heidi Frail came to share a few words with the crowd. Senator Rausch thanked DEI as well as State and local officials as well as speakers and performers as their “energy and talent makes this a true celebration of Dr. King’s life.” She went on to express that sometimes guests come to events to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King feels as though we could never fill his shoes, “but it is simply not true that we are not like Dr. King, because everybody can serve, because everybody must serve, because democracy is not a spectator sport… we can all make a great difference. So what will you do when you leave here today to serve?... No matter what you do to serve, do it with integrity, do it with respect for other people’s humanity.”
NHS Black Student Union President Adonai Baptista took to the podium to speak to the crowd. He asked attendees, “Are we living Dr. King’s dream or are we settling?” He shared that we can’t deny the injustices that exist in our world today and that “the movement for justice and equity is far from over.” He called to question what everyone will do to dismantle justice and hatred, as well as asked everyone to turn inward to see if their fight for justice was because it was trendy or because it is right; are they contributing to a movement or simply a bystander? Baptista urged everyone to “leave with a commitment to action,” on this day whether it was to amplify marginalized voices, stand up for marginalized groups, or speak out against injustice, even when it is uncomfortable. He urged everyone to let this day be more than a celebration and make the decision to turn this day into a turning point to be that change in the world.
Apart from these profound words of wisdom, there were a variety of performances held throughout the program to bring life and energy into this celebration of Dr. King’s life. These performances included a step dance dance routine from the NHS Bomb Squad, the reenactment of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by the Eliot Elementary School chorus, a performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” by the Plugged in Band Program, and a performance of Brother Dennis’ Band where audience members were welcome to sing along with “We Shall Overcome,” and “Life Every Voice.” Students from the NHS Lation & Black Student Unions shared experts from Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream,” speech and Needham Interfaith Clergy members shared their reflections upon the day.
This day not only celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, but it also brought together the Needham community for a day of celebration, a call to action, and a means to serve the greater good of the community.
