Martin Luther King Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Capitol MLK Day Celebration Highlights Human Rights

Unity and human rights were the theme for Monday’s State Capitol celebration of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy.

The human rights that Dr. King fought for decades ago persevere to this day.

A symbolic march from a downtown Charleston church to the capitol steps traditionally begins West Virginia’s MLK day ceremony. Fitting for the theme, there was unity among the diverse crowd.

The Capital High School VIP choir’s rendition of the song “Unity” set a melodic and insightful tone.

Among the crowd was nationally recognized journalist, author, women’s rights activist and Muslim Asra Nomani. Born in India, she was raised and educated in West Virginia.

In 2003, Nomani was the first woman in her Morgantown West Virginia mosque to pray in the male-only main hall, a precedent setting and ground breaking action.

Nomani said continuing Dr. King’s crusade for race, religion, creed and gender rights – human rights – is vital for everyday life to move forward.

“It begins with all of us. Social justice and human rights is for all of us,” Nomani said. “Whatever our identity, Dr. Martin Luther King was so clear that we can have no hierarchy of human value, and that is

exactly how we must live in the 21st Century.”

West Virginia State students Diorie Robinson and John Fitzpatrick were among the younger people in attendance who said they stand firm with helping to champion Dr. King and Asra’s Nomani’s human rights campaign:

“I think it’s extremely important. Everyone needs their human rights,” Robinson said. “Everyone in the world matters – no matter what race you are, where you stand in the city, anything like that.”

“A lot of times we just look at it like a lot of people think that Martin Luther King was only fighting for colored people,” Fitzpatrick said. “He was really fighting for all human rights for everybody.”

Another State Capitol MLK day tradition – the Freedom Bell which signifies peace for all. This year, with anti-racism and transgender challenges among human rights issues facing West Virginians, that bell rings with passion and purpose.

Creative Works Inspired By Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sought For 2022 Project On Racism

The 2022 Project on Racism is calling on West Virginia students to create original works to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There are two opportunities. The first is a call to submit essays, music, and five-minute films organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission and the YWCA of Wheeling.

All essays, music, and film entries must be received before midnight on Nov. 15.

Any student from grades 1-12 attending public, private, parochial, or home school in West Virginia may enter. Students under the age of 20 enrolled in a high school correspondence / Test Assessing Secondary Completion program also qualify to compete.

All entries must focus on the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”

Entries may be submitted by U.S. Postal Service, fax, email, or hand delivery. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed contact information form and the original work. All entries in this category must be received before midnight Monday, Nov. 15.

Winners will be announced before the end of December 2021 and will be invited to participate in a Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs virtual event in January 2022.

The second opportunity is the 38th annual poster contest, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission and the Beta Beta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

West Virginia students from grades K-12 may enter the poster contest. The art must focus on the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Posters must incorporate the quote. Although the artwork must be original, teachers are encouraged to assist students with developing original slogans or captions used in the poster.

The entry may be in any format. The piece can be created with pencil, crayon, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, serigraph woodblock, photography, or mixed media. The artist must explain the style and the selected media on the entry form, which must be taped to the back of the artwork. Entries without this information will be disqualified.

Submissions in this category must be postmarked on or before Wednesday, Dec. 1. Judging begins Dec. 2. Winning entries will be exhibited at the Great Hall of the West Virginia Culture Center from January 2022 to February 2022. The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission will also create a 2022 calendar using the winning entries from the poster contest and winners will be invited to participate in the January 2022 virtual event.

Guidelines and entry forms for all the contests can be found on the MLK Commission tab on HHOMA’s website at minorityaffairs.wv.gov.

Plans Set for West Virginia's Observation of King Holiday

Plans are in place for West Virginia’s annual observation of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Carolyn Stuart, who heads the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission, says the theme for the Jan. 18 commemoration is “There’s Still Work To Be Done; If Not Now, When? If Not You, Who?”

A morning service at Asbury United Methodist Church in Charleston will be followed by a march to the State Capitol Complex for a bell-ringing ceremony. A reception will follow in the Lower Rotunda of the Capitol.

The event is free and open to the public.