The organization “And Still We Rise” will present a weekend series of programs titled “Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: We Still Have a Dream” on January 14 – 16, 2023 in Hartsville. The weekend will include a Call to Leadership, a community banquet with Dr. Bobby Donaldson as the keynote speaker, an opera concert featuring Opera Noire International, a commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with keynote speaker Michael Harriot, and an opening reception for the “Justice for All” exhibit at the Hartsville Museum. SC Humanities supported this programming with a Mini Grant.
And Still We Rise is partnering with People to People of Hartsville, the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, the Hartsville Museum, and the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The goal of the programming is to share about Martin Luther King Jr. and other Civil Rights activists and to reach middle and high school students.
A variety of events will take place over the weekend, most of them free and open to the public:
Saturday, January 14, 2023 | 11:00 a.m.
Community Youth Leadership Forum
Location: Jerusalem Baptist Church Fellowship Center, 301 South Sixth Street, Hartsville, SC
Lunch will be served
Saturday, January 14, 2023 | 6:30 p.m.
Community Celebration
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bobby Donaldson, James E. and Emily Clyburn Endowed Chair of Public Service and Civil Engagement and Director of the USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research
Location: Jerusalem Baptist Church Fellowship Center, 301 South Sixth Street, Hartsville, SC
Free, but reservations are required
Reserve a spot at andstillwerisesc@gmail.com or 843-229-7229
Sunday, January 15, 2023 | 3:00 p.m.
Opera Noire International Performance
Opera Noire International is a performing arts company, as well as a resource and network for African American artists. ONI has performed in multiple venues around the country. Opera Noire was founded by leading New York City Opera tenor Robert Mack, who has roots in Hartsville, baritone Kenneth Overton and tenor Barron Coleman. The group consists of all African American opera singers.
Location: Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, 300 East College Avenue, Hartsvile, SC
Tickets: Adults – $15; children 12 and under – Free
Monday, January 16, 2023 | 12:00 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration
Keynote Speaker: Michael Harriot, Hartsville native & writer for The Grio and The Guardian
Location: Jerusalem Baptist Church Fellowship Center, 301 South Sixth Street, Hartsville, SC
Free and open to the public
Light lunch following the service
Monday, January 16, 2023 | 3:00 p.m.
Opening of the Exhibit “Justice for All” at the Hartsville Museum
The exhibit is created by the USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research
Location: Hartsville Museum, 222 N Fifth St, Hartsville, SC 29550
Additionally, Cecil Williams will be at several of the events, distributing images from his “South Carolina History that Shaped America in Arts in Education” series.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash
Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mathew Ahmann in a crowd.], 8/28/1963″ Original black and white negative by Rowland Scherman. Taken August 28th, 1963, Washington D.C, United States (The National Archives and Records Administration). Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd. U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service. ca. 1953-ca. 1978. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/542015
