Harlan Kirgan
By Harlan Kirgan
Editor
The annual ceremony to commemorate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the New Zion Baptist Church brought together a community that honored the civil rights leader and often turned to notes of community pride.
The Rev. Mack Frank, pastor of the church, said the service would “celebrate a great man, a great American. He is an American hero that is recognized throughout the world.”
The Sunday celebration honored two native sons, former Eunice alderman Johnny Anderson and Michael Victorian, who had a successful business career and is a leader in the 100 Black organization.
When Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot greeted the participants and mentioned the acquisition of a $1.6 million grant to install LED street and recreation lighting in the city, the crowd clapped.
“I know we are going to do some things in this city that only few have dreamed of, I promise you,” Fontenot said.
Frank asked the mayor, Police Chief Randy Fontenot and City Judge Terry Hoychick who were present to speak to the white community “… and have them understand that Martin Luther King is not just a black hero. He is an American hero.”
Also present was another native son, Dr.Charles Loeb, who struck hometown notes, but also reminded the event was about an ongoing bid for justice.
“Today, more than ever, we people of goodwill must stand against racism and injustice. This blatant and racist verbal assault on people from Africa and Haiti underscored 45’s complete lack of understanding of the enormous contributions of Americans from Africa and Haiti,” he said.
Victorian, the feature speaker, said, “I stand before you today honored as a son of this community and as a soldier of this fight. I use the word fight intentionally. Our nation, our state, and our communities are in a fight for the future. Our country is more divided now than ever before.”
A main battleground involves young black men, he said.
Victorian cited the following:
— 54 percent of African-Americans graduate from high school, compared to more than 75 percent of white and Asian students.
— Nationally, African-American male students in grades K-12 were nearly 2½ times as likely to be suspended from school as white students.
— On average, African-American 12th-grade students read at the same level as eighth-grade white students.
— The majority of the 2.3 million people incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails are people of color.
“You see behind every heartbreaking fact concerning our youth is a face. Behind every tragic statistic is a story. Behind every upsetting catch phrase is a young person whose future will be lost if something is not done immediately to change his or her reality. And when it comes to young, African-American men, the numbers are staggering and the reality is sobering,” he said.
Anderson, honored with the Dr. M.L. King Jr. Award, gave credit to the his parents and the people of Eunice for who he is today.
“I am thankful for your love and your support.” he said.
Anderson was key to starting the King observance 32 years ago.
Anderson rattled off name after name of Eunice men who mentored him — Charles Loeb, Freddie Alfred, Brother Lemelle, Alton Richardson and more.
“I am because of many of those men …” he said.
Anderson returned the day’s honor by announcing he was giving $2,000 to the celebrate committee and challenged others to donate $1,000 to develop Amy Park, the Southeast Community Center, as a place for the young and old.
Calling it a “hope center,” Anderson said 1,000 people from Eunice are needed to donate $1,000 each to create a million dollar center with opportunities for seniors to gather and youths to have access to computers and mentoring.