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The SETX community gathered at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. day parade Jan.14. Courtesy photo. -
The SETX community gathered at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. day parade Jan.14. Courtesy photo.
A weekend of celebratory events culminated with the 37th annual MLK Jr. Brunch and Celebration at the Robert A “Bob” Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur on Monday, Jan. 16, in honor of the late Civil Rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Guests packed the civic center, as they have for decades, to revel in the works of community members heralded for their efforts to advance the quality of life for everyone living in Southeast Texas.
After a communal chorus of “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” guests enjoyed lunch, a guest speaker and announcement of the Man and Woman of the Year awards – Yolanda Avery and Levy Barnes, the 2022 honorees, bestowing the 2023 honors to this year’s recipients, Gail Castille and Constable Gene Winston.
Prior to the MLK Day event, guests attended the 37th annual MLK Jr. Sunday Church Service at the Missionary Baptist Church in Port Arthur, honoring 2023 “Let Freedom Ring” recipients in pastors Phillip Battles Sr., Torey Doucette and Vester Thompson Jr.
In Beaumont, on Saturday, Jan. 14, community organizations and groups joined scholars and staff of the Beaumont Independent School District in the annual MLK Day Parade.
A future chance to celebrate the life of the late Civil Rights leader will again present itself to the public as Beaumont Community Players presents “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall.
Lead actors for the role include Southeast Texas’ TAN (Triangle Area Network) Executive Director Dena Hughes, and the supporting cast is comprised of local actors.
The Mountaintop is billed as a gripping reimagination of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Olivier Award winner for Best New Play, the story is a journey through the missing minutes of April 3, 1968, just before his assassination, as Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel after delivering his “Mountaintop” speech.
The production is rated PG 17 for adult language and content; and this performance may contain smoking of tobacco-free cigarettes.
Show dates are available in the evening and afternoons of select dates from Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m., through Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at www.beaumontstages.com/. For more information, call (409) 833-4664 or email info@BeaumontStages.com.