UPDATED: Morgan City, Patterson people honor Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the leader of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, was silenced by an assassin’s bullet more than half a century ago. But his words continued to echo in Martin Luther King Day celebrations Monday in Morgan City and Patterson.
The Patterson New Age Civic Organization conducted an event at Good Hope Baptist Church in that city beginning at 10 a.m. The theme was “Stay on track: We still have work to do.”
In the afternoon, the St. Mary Chapter of the NAACP hosted an observance at the Siracusaville Recreation Center.
In Patterson, the MLK Choir performed.
The keynote speakers were Holden Murray, the city government’s human resources director, and Kreig Triggs of Kreig Triggs Fitness LLC. They received keys to the city from Mayor Rodney Grogan, as did Ronnie Mabile of Redeemed Life Fellowship. A newcomer to the area, Mabile and wife Renee have become active in charitable work.
Grogan reminisced about his father, who sometimes grumbled as school buses passed because he didn’t have a bus to ride to a segregated school.
“I had to tell him that if we were still in the past, I wouldn’t be the mayor of Patterson,” Grogan said.
Young people were among the speakers, too. Jamari Francis of Patterson High read King’s biography and said the sacrifices of the past made it possible for her to go on to a historically black university.
Linzy Howard challenged the community to help, mentor and train young people.
“Are you willing to make an investment in me?” Howard asked. “Not just me, but every kid who looks like me?”
In Morgan City, the Tri Parish Gospel Ensemble and the Walters Girls performed. The keynote speaker was Pastor Jay Grogan of Oberlin’s First Baptist Church.
Morgan City High student Sarah Daniels noted that only a few decades ago, 60% of African American women were employed as domestic servants. Now 60% of women have white collar jobs, she said.
The Rev. Ron Bias, a Morgan City councilman, said he doubts that young people will get the sort of education that they received at Monday’s King Day event.
“We want to see a better world,” Bias said. “We want to see a better community. … That’s what Dr. King was all about.”