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Inglewood MLK Parade attracts thousands

WAVE NEWSPAPERS — Thousands attended a symbolic civil rights march and parade on Jan. 19, celebrating the 36th Annual MLK Day in Inglewood

Published

6 years ago

January 25, 2019

John W. Davis Contributing Writer

INGLEWOOD – Thousands attended a symbolic civil rights march and parade on Jan. 19, celebrating the 36th Annual MLK Day in Inglewood, reportedly one of the nation’s first municipalities to recognize King’s birthday as a legal holiday.

Floats, bands, community organizations and student speakers joined the daylong event, which began with a commemorative service at The Tabernacle Faith Central Bible Church and was followed by a family friendly King Fest along Market Street, the city’s main business district.

One of those student speakers, second-grader Pete Asafor, said while America has undoubtedly made racial progress, much remains to be done.

“America is still divided as ever,” said Asafor, a student at Inglewood’s LaTijera Charter School. “Many people might even say the hate and violence that was so prevalent during Dr. King’s life has been ignited.”

Asafor, who was inspired by King’s iconic “I Have A Dream” speech, won first place in the K-2^nd grade category for his speech linking King’s legacy to Isaac Newton’s law of inertia, which says that an object at rest tends to remain at rest unless it is acted on or “disrupted” by an unbalanced force.

Asafor compared King’s social and political actions during the civil rights movement as the “disruption” or unbalanced force that was needed to change segregation laws in the 1960s.

“We must treat others as we wish to be treated, we do not need Newton’s laws of motion to move us forward,” the 7-year-old said. “What we need is to be sympathetic, concerned, and involved in making sure that Dr. King’s contribution to the world is honored, remembered and practiced. This is what will move America in the right direction.”

Mayor James Butts also joined parade-goers, championing the progress being made to revitalize Inglewood, a city in the midst of a major redevelopment push sparked by the multi-billion dollar Los Angeles Rams and Chargers stadium at Hollywood Park.

“Every year that we come to do this event, every single year, we’ve added another milestone to the resurrection and the history of this city,” said Butts, who began his third term in office this month.

“If you drive down Kareem Court or Pincay (Drive) or Prairie (Avenue), you’ve seen the progress on that stadium,” he said. “It looks beautiful, just as a skeleton. I can’t imagine what it will look like when it’s finished.”

Henry Brown, chair of the 2019 King Day Planning Committee, said King’s legacy should inspire all Americans, regardless of color, creed or religion.

“(Dr. King) was a black man but his message was inclusive,” Brown said. “He may not be here with us but today he lives in each of us.”

Personifying that point were more than 50 students, faculty and staff members from Los Angeles Southwest College – representing various ethnic backgrounds – who joined the parade route to honor America’s apostle of peace.

Howard Irvin, the school’s vice president of student services, said as Inglewood seeks to evolve, diversity, inclusiveness and mutual respect are vital.

“Inglewood… is considered one of the melting pots of Los Angeles County, so it’s very important that we all participate (in the march),” he said.

“People are coming back to the city, living in the city. With the advent of the new stadium, we’re all going to have to live together, because it’s not just black and brown, but it’s also all other races that are coming back to live in this fine community.”

John W. Davis Contributing Writer

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Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

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November 12, 2024

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Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

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6 days ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.