As the 37th anniversary approaches of the initial observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day nationwide, the MLK Commission of Florida in Gainesville is preparing to mark its 40th year of honoring and commemorating the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The focal point of King Celebration 2024 in Gainesville will be the 39th annual Hall of Fame Gala at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville, located at 1714 SW 34th St.
The theme for King Celebration 2024 will be “King Commission: 40 Years of Legacy.”
King Celebration 2024 will introduce some new elements, including holding the gala at the Hilton for the first time, as mentioned by Rodney Long, the founder and president of the King Commission.
Long expressed, “We aim to infuse more of a gala ambiance into the event,” highlighting the significance of the gala where he will be acknowledged as the newest addition to the commission’s hall of fame.
Additionally, King Celebration 2024 will incorporate a stroll down memory lane event, with floats, bands, and other participants joining the annual King Celebration commemorative march for the first time to transform it into more of a parade, Long elaborated.
The march/parade is scheduled to commence at noon on January 15 at the Bo Diddley Downtown Community Plaza, situated at 111 E. University Ave., and will culminate at Citizen’s Field on Waldo Road. Attendees are encouraged to secure early parking at Citizens Field and utilize the complimentary shuttle bus service provided by the city of Gainesville, facilitating their departure post the parade festivities, according to Long.
Long emphasized, “We encourage attendees to utilize the free shuttle bus service for a convenient return from Citizens Field after the parade activities.”
The parade festivities on January 15, the national MLK Holiday, will conclude with the National Holiday Celebration commencing at 1 p.m. at Citizens Field, featuring a special performance by Little Jake and The Soul Searchers Band, spoken word presentations, and more.
Long, alongside King, the inaugural hall of fame inductee for whom the hall is named, will be joined by other prominent local leaders and community activists such as the late Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Wright Sr., the late Charles Chestnut III, Rosa B. Williams, and numerous others showcased in a photo exhibition at the King Memorial Gardens in front of City Hall at 200 E. University Ave. in downtown Gainesville.
Long reflected, “Some have humorously remarked that it took 40 years for the King Commission to acknowledge my contributions as a community servant. However, true service to the community is not driven by the pursuit of recognition. Nevertheless, I am deeply honored and humbled by the hall of fame induction. Public service is about serving others selflessly.”
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Long initiated his civic engagement in 1978 as the co-owner of Music Express of Gainesville and W.O.N.E. radio station. Over the years, he has orchestrated community events like the Musical Affair Homecoming event following the annual University of Florida Homecoming Parade and the All-American Sport-A-Thon for youth in the community.
In 1982, while attending UF, he organized the inaugural King Commemorative March, commencing at the Plaza of the Americas on UF’s campus and concluding at the downtown community plaza.
The King Memorial Celebration Committee, later evolving into the King Commission, was founded subsequent to Long’s proposal to the Gainesville City Commission in December 1984, with the objective of erecting a memorial in honor of King and coordinating celebratory events with local entities to uphold King’s legacy, Long recounted.
Long has also served as the executive director of the Alachua County NAACP from 1983-87, secured the position of the first elected single-member district commissioner on the Gainesville City Commission in 1988, and in 2000, became the first African American to serve on both the Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission following his election to the county commission.
The common thread binding all those enshrined in the King Commission’s Hall of Fame is their selfless dedication to enhancing the community without seeking acknowledgment, Long emphasized.
The keynote speaker at this year’s hall of fame gala will be Justice Alexander, a senior at Eastside High School and the recipient of this year’s Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship, Long disclosed.
Long shared, “It’s interesting to note that she participated in a spelling bee during King Celebration events when she was younger and expressed her aspiration to win the Keeper of the Dream Scholarship. It’s fulfilling to witness her dream materialize.”
Alexander’s address will illuminate her personal journey and pay homage to King’s legacy, she affirmed.
She articulated, “I intend to offer a glimpse into my story and the challenges I overcame. I want to acknowledge the opportunities Dr. King and other civil rights leaders tirelessly worked to provide for us.”
Since its inception in 1982, the scholarship has disbursed nearly \(500,000, with the first recipient, Carla Davis, receiving \)500. The scholarship, named in memory of the late Hart, a longstanding educator in Alachua County for over 40 years, aims to honor her legacy. Last year’s recipient, Makayla Flanders, an Eastside graduate, was granted $10,000.
Long underscored, “All our scholarship recipients have been exceptional students dedicated to serving others and giving back to the community.”
King Celebration events will encompass:
+ Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Remembering Martin and Coretta Program at DaySpring Baptist Church located at 1945 NE Eighth Ave.
+ January 10 at 7 p.m., town hall symposium themed “King Commission: 40 Years of Legacy Panel Discussion,” featuring former hall of fame and scholarship recipients at DaySpring.
+ January 12 at 6 p.m., third annual Stephan P. Mickle Jazz Concert honoring the late U.S. District Court Judge Stephan P. Mickle at the Bo Diddley Downtown Community Plaza at 111 E. University Ave.
+ January 13 at 7 p.m., Star Center Theatre and King Commission present “Walk Don’t Ride: A Celebration of the Fight for Freedom and Equality” at the theater located at 11 NE 23rd Ave. Complimentary tickets can be obtained via: Star Center Ticketleap or by contacting 352-376-2442.