The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King was celebrated on Monday, January 19 at an event held at the Milford Senior Center. The event was presented through a partnership with Downtown Milford Inc., Jesus Love Temple, Mt. Enon Baptist Church, Avenue United Methodist Church and Representative Bryan Shupe. Darron Johnson-Wilson acted as the master of ceremonies.
“Your presence here is a powerful reminder that Dr. King’s message of justice, equality and love continues to call us together, whether it is across generations or backgrounds,” Terry Rogers, President of Downtown Milford Inc. said in a welcoming message. “Dr. King once said, ‘everybody can be great because anybody can serve.’ Those words sit at the very heart of what DMI does. Our organization is made up of volunteers from all walks of life, professions and cultures. We believe that small, active service, when guided by courage and compassion, can create meaningful change.”
Reverend Dr. Patricia Green of Mount Enon Baptist Church led the opening prayer followed by Reverend Steve Lamont from Avenue Church who reminded the crowd of King’s legacy. Pastor David Shockley and the Jesus Love Temple Choir led those gathered in celebration in singing “Melodies from Heaven.” Johnson-Wilson recognized state and local leaders who were in attendance before asking Vice-Mayor Jason James to say a few words.
“I’m really, really happy to see everyone who came out tonight. You represent all the clergy, all of those that are involved in nonprofit organizations, all of those who are involved in trying to make lives better. And I know there’s a lot of organization names I can speak of,” James said. “I do want to say something about our city that I can speak on. Dr King’s dream only means something if you put it into action, if you actually live it, that you make it meaningful in someone else’s life. And I can tell you when you look at our city, you look at the makeup of our city, the makeup of our council, the makeup of our city manager and all the department heads that report to him, the makeup of our police department, we can say that we’re a very diverse city.:
James continued, pointing out that when council deliberated, they understood that they represented a very diverse city.
“We try to make sure that there’s no injustice that breeds or lives or takes place in any ward within the city of Milford because injustice to anyone is injustice to everyone. It’s very important that, when we are doing our jobs, we want to make sure that everyone receives fair treatment, equal treatment, equal justice, equal opportunities, equal distribution of resources,” James said. “Everywhere from those who are our street team members, those who collect our trash, those who make sure our electricity stays on, make sure that we have clean water, those who are bound to protect us. We make sure that we are well represented, and all those things function well because we want to make sure that everyone, everyone can live the best life that they can. We are our brother’s keeper, and we will make sure that we represent you well and we will stand on the line for you. We’re not afraid of challenges. We’re not afraid when things come our way to face them head on and fight for what’s right. If you have issues or concerns, bring them to us, we’ll make sure that we resolve them.”
Following James’ speech, Pastor Neyda Albarran of Avenue United Methodist Church introduced members of the Downtown Milford Inc. Multicultural Committee, a committee created to reach out to the many cultures that exist in Milford. Albarran also leads The Culture Club PR, a multicultural club for children that promotes a culture of peace through learning experiences and celebration.
“A big part of what we do also engages children in literacy multicultural books and tonight, Avenue United Methodist Church has provided books about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King that are free for children to take,” Albarran said. “Tonight, we are going to read that story to you. It is called “Martin’s Big Words.” Martin Luther King said something I love. He said “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” That is the message this book sends.”
Albarran called the children in the audience to the front of the room and welcomed former Mayor Archie Campbell to read the book to the children.
“It’s very important through the midst of it all, we take time for the kids,” Johnson-Wilson said after Campbell finished reading. “And as a new father, I’m learning that they always come first.”
Johnson-Wilson introduced Downtown Milford Inc.’s Coordinator, Sade Truiett, applauding her dedication in taking the organization to the next level. He then introduced the keynote speaker, Cliffvon Howell, providing the audience with Howell’s extensive biography.
“Cliffvon is a product of Delaware’s public education system, receiving his high school diploma from Cape Henlopen High School. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Delaware State University,” Johnson-Wilson said. “He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Wilmington University. He recently joined the staff at the United Way of Delaware where he works to enhance strategic partnerships with underserved communities. He is the Associate Vice-President of Engagement and Impact.”
Howell stated that of all the accomplishments Johnson-Wilson mentioned, the one that stands out and that he is most proud of is being from Sussex County.
“I am a Sussex County boy. Not a good ole boy, but a Sussex County boy,” Howell said. “I carry that with me everywhere I go. It has always been known that I am a Sussex County boy. I am very proud of that. When I have the chance to talk about Dr. King’s legacy, it reminds me of my family’s own walk, my family’s own mission. I’m a great grandson of a man named Simon Woodrow. He came from a place called Newland, North Carolina. Anybody ever heard of Newland, North Carolina? We are from Mill Pond Road. He brought his family here in the late 1940s in search of a better life. They came here largely because they wanted better economic opportunities, but also because he wanted to escape and flee some of the very things that Dr King was fighting.”
According to Howell, he grew up hearing about King’s fight, taken down roads by his great uncle and shown places in Delaware where things were difficult for his family when they arrived.
“That’s in my lifetime. I’ve broken bread with people from the Milford 11. I’ve broken bread with people from the Robinson Segregated School in Robinsonville, outside of Lewes, who many of you may not know, is the last school in Delaware to integrate. So, I had the opportunity to share Dr King’s vision, know and understand I do it painted with the backdrop that I’ve lived some of this, not personally. I never experienced segregation. I’m the first generation to not experience segregated schools here in Delaware, but trust and believe I got first-hand accounts of what it was like right here,” Howell said. “So, as we come here tonight to ponder what Dr King’s legacy means to each of us and the importance of his message, we gather not merely to mark a date on the calendar, but to honor a light, to reshape the conscience of this nation and redefine the meaning of justice, courage, love and sacrifice. “
Pointing out that this year marks the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day becoming a federal holiday and the one-year anniversary of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, Howell stated that King’s words were as urgent today as when he spoke them many years ago.
“They call us together, not only to reflect, but to recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of justice. It is fitting that since the inception of the federal holiday, groups and organizations have adopted a motto, “a day of service” and not a day off,” Howell said, asking those in the audience who provided a service in honor of King that day to stand. “This critical, because Dr King sacrificed valuable time with his family and loved ones through his service in pursuit of social justice to set America on a new course, a better course, where everybody in America could be judged based on the content of their character and not the color of their skin.”
Howell wanted those in attendance to be reminded that there was a moral foundation to Dr King’s leadership, stating that it his leadership was rooted in faith and moral conviction.
“Dr King believed that justice was not optional. It was a divine mandate. He declared, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” See, Dr King understood that expediency is not the measure of progress, as progress often comes slowly, but Dr King never wavered in his belief that the truth, when pursued with courage and conviction, would prevail,” Howell said. “I’m reminded that Dr King subscribed to agitation versus accommodation as a means to confronting racial justice.”
Howell then used a washing machine with an agitator as an example of how agitation lifts out stains and gets clothes clean.
“The lesson here is it takes action to affect change. Change doesn’t happen on its own or when left to one’s own devices. Dr King ascended to national prominence during the Montgomery Bus boycott, which was a movement born out of dignity and collective sacrifice,” Howell said. “There, he reminded America, we are not wrong if we protest courageously for our rights. From Birmingham to Selma, Dr King exposed the cruelty of segregation and forced this nation to confront the reality of racial injustice during the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr King challenged America’s conscious declaring, ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, that all men are created equal.”’That dream, that speech, helped inspire the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a subsequent Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Fair Housing Act of 1968 together, they collectively reshaped the American democracy.”King fell to an assassin despite his constant admonishment against violence during the civil rights movement, Howell said. Sadly, it was pushed back to this progress that would bring his earthly journey to a
“A central focus of Dr King’s philosophy was nonviolence, but not as a weakness, as a strength. Dr King taught us nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding,” Howell said. “Dr King and his circle of influence believe love was the most powerful force available to humanity when he boldly proclaims, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that, and Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.’ As Americans across all walks of life continue to grapple with rising costs of goods for food and other necessities, I’m reminded that Dr King’s last movement centered around economic justice, which he referred to as the forgotten struggle. “
According to Howell, one of the forgotten focuses of King was the need to address economic injustice. He reminded the audience that King once said, “what good is it to have the right to sit at a lunch counter if you can’t afford a sandwich.”
“Dr King organized the poor people’s campaign calling attention to poverty, unemployment and economic inequality, he’s boldly stated, ‘the problem of poverty is not that we lack resources, but that we lack the will,’” Howell said. “So how can we have the most impact today? That’s by defending the right to vote in this process. Dr King held that voting was essential to freedom and dignity during the Selma campaign. He declared, ‘the vote is precious. It’s the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society.’ Because of the sacrifices made in Selma and beyond, millions gained access to the ballot. Those sacrifices included beatings, broken bones and even the loss of life to acquire the franchise.”
Howell stated that King also knew that eternal vigilance would be required to protect that right, explaining that there were current attempts to eliminate voting opportunities by adding harmful voting restrictions in many of the same places where King fought for the right of all to vote.
“Dr King held a global vision for peace and human rights, I ponder openly what would Dr King think of the current involvement in Nigeria, Venezuela, potentially Greenland. Then a scholar within me reminds me Dr King’s commitment to justice extended beyond the United States. We remember that he courageously spoke out against the Vietnam War, understanding that violence abroad undermined justice at home,” Howell said. “Remember, Dr King said, ‘a nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching a spiritual death.’ This country’s biggest single budget line item continues to be defense funding, and there are actively people in positions of leadership boasting about America’s military prowess and the intent to be the dominant force in the Western Hemisphere, while levels of American poverty continue to climb.”
Faith-based leaders needed to heed King’s words, Howell pointed out.
“Let this be a reminder to our faith-based leaders among us, many who have that picture of Dr King hanging in the sanctuary, that he still watches, and you still have an obligation to not only feed your flock spiritually, but to also fight for justice and social equality,” Howell said. “If you’re a clergy and you came here knowing the state of despair in this country, but you hope that this speaker would ignore what people are actually experiencing in favor of a message of false unity, then you are missing Dr King’s example of courage in the ultimate proclamation of truth. Dr King’s ultimate vision was not decision, but transformation. See, he dreamed of the beloved community, yes, a society grounded in justice, compassion and shared humanity. Dr King taught us, peace is not merely the absence of tension, it’s the presence of justice. Dr King often reminded us that history is shaped by moral choices, and he challenged each generation when he said, our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Howell continued.
“Honoring. Dr King requires more than remembrance. It comes with responsibility and it requires action. As we celebrate. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, let us remember his call to action. Let us make this more than a moment. Let’s make the commitment to the reincarnation of a movement,” Howell said. “He told us everybody can be great because everybody can serve with the watchful eye to the future. I’m also reminding you all and reminded that Dr King was a man born of flesh and bone. He was not unflawed. His legacy is not that of a perfect person, but that of a person who perfectly understood the human cause. This is important, because as we celebrate the 40th year of the Federal holiday and commemorate the 58th year since his passing, there are once again calls to repeal this holiday. Currently, there are people who inform federal policy that want to see Dr King’s contributions to the American progress rolled back because of information contained in documents from the FBI, which you may or may not know was aimed at limiting and eliminating black leadership. We must protect Dr King’s legacy of peace, love and courage and furtherance of mankind; while distancing any flaws he may have had from those in comparison that dehumanized Maine or promoted the subjugation of people in furtherance of wealth. If we’re not careful and intentional, we may not have a 41st anniversary. May we leave this place here today, committed not only to remembering his work, but to live in his legacy of standing for justice, choosing love over hate, and bending the arc of the moral universe towards justice. Dr King’s dream lives on through all of us.”
Following the keynote speech, Albarran led the group of children into the room carrying signs reading “love,” “courage,” “faith” and other positive words. The children led the audience in singing “We Shall Overcome” while walking through the room. Shockley then ended the evening with a closing prayer.
This event is planned annually and anyone who is interested in assisting or joining the DMI Multicultural committee, can reach out to Truiett via email or call 302-393-6808.
