Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration hosted by the MLK Committee of Santa Barbara began in De La Guerra Plaza with music, dance, prayer, poetry, and community followed by a march up State Street to the Arlington Theatre for more events.
Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration hosted by the MLK Committee of Santa Barbara began in De La Guerra Plaza with music, dance, prayer, poetry, and community followed by a march up State Street to the Arlington Theatre for more events. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration hosted by the MLK Committee of Santa Barbara began in De La Guerra Plaza with music, dance and poetry followed by a march to the Arlington Theatre. 

Isaac Garrett, Vice President of MLKSB, welcomed the crowd and announced that this year’s theme is “the time is always right to do what is right,” a quote taken from one of King’s speeches. 

The morning program was dedicated to Derrick Curtis, a founding member and former president of MLKSB who passed away in September 2023.

“Derrick was a community person who loved people and who loved dance,” Rev. Roderick Murray told the crowd on Monday.

“His legacy is important because your legacy is important. And the light that shines in him is the same light that he wanted to share with each one of you.”

Then the crowd heard readings from two fourth graders who won a local poetry and essay contest. Ashlynn Richwine spoke first, reading her essay about King and doing the right thing. 

“He famously said, ‘The time is always right to do something right.’ That saying can mean different things to different people,” Richwine read to the crowd. “For me it means if it is the right thing to do, you should do it. This way of thinking can be used every day. From the time you wake up in the morning and your mom asks you to brush your teeth, to the time you get home and go to bed, you are always making choices.” 

Following Richwine’s essay was a poem written and read by fourth grader Takunda Chikowero.

“Speak up against hatred, ignorance and discrimination,” Chikowero read to the crowd. “Children and adults, together we can make a difference, together we can clean our polluted world.”

Takunda Chikowero reads his poem about Martin Luther King. Ashlynn Richwine, left, read her essay about King and doing the right thing during Monday’s events at De La Guerra Plaza. Also pictured are Isaac Garrett of the MLK Committee of Santa Barbara and Michelle Detorie.
Takunda Chikowero reads his poem about Martin Luther King. Ashlynn Richwine, left, read her essay about King and doing the right thing during Monday’s events at De La Guerra Plaza. Also pictured are Isaac Garrett of the MLK Committee of Santa Barbara and Michelle Detorie. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

Edward Song, an associate philosophy professor at Westmont College, shared a message about King’s life, legacy and the work that still needs to get done. 

“It is good that there is a national holiday celebrated, but there is also a danger as time passes, as the memory of a man gets institutionalized, for that legacy to be watered down and simplified,” Song said to the crowd. 

Song spoke against colorblind policies that ignore racial differences, praised King’s nonviolent approach to change, and love for one’s enemies.

“To honor Dr. King’s legacy we cannot comfort ourselves with the thought that things are better than they really are,” Song said. “We must commit ourselves to the hard work of dismantling systems of racial oppression and injustice. But we must do this in a way that does not lead us to hate even the oppressor.”

The World Dance for Humanity group got the crowd up on their feet and led them to dance freely for a few songs until they were ready for their march up State Street to the Arlington Theatre.

The World Dance for Humanity group got the crowd up on their feet and led them to dance freely for a few songs until they were ready for their march up State Street to the Arlington Theatre Monday morning.
The World Dance for Humanity group got the crowd up on their feet Monday morning. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

Janet Reineck, director of World Dance for Humanity invited the crowd to join in on the dancing to remember Curtis and Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, another founding member of MLKSB, who passed away in November of 2023. 

A few members of the crowd held signs during the march up State Street. The crowd continued singing, dancing, and talking to their neighbors as they walked.  

The celebration continued at Arlington Theatre with live music, poetry readings, choir performances, and speeches from several elected officials.

Events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day also took place Sunday afternoon in Santa Maria and Monday in Lompoc. 

“As I reflect on Dr. King’s  words, I’m filled with optimism and hope, even as we have so much yet to accomplish,” State Assemblyman Gregg Hart said on Monday at the De La Guerra Plaza event. “I think about how remarkably strong and selfless Dr. King was to fight vitriol and hate with love and compassion.”

The crowd continued singing, dancing, and talking to their neighbors as they marched up State Street.
The crowd continued singing, dancing, and talking to their neighbors as they marched up State Street. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.