“If you cannot fly then run. If you cannot run, then walk, if you cannot walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, have to keep moving.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Martin Luther King Parade is a tradition that represents the life, teaching, and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Fayetteville Cumberland County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee presents the 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m., in Downtown Fayetteville.
“My passion for the MLK Parade was spearheaded by Mrs. Lula Crenshaw, and Reverend Aaron Johnson,” said Stanely Ford, Chair, FCCMLK Committee. “My position allows me to follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Milo Slocumb, Mr. Floyd Shorter, Dr. Wilson Lacy, and Ms Belinda Grant. Ms. Belinda Grant had been the key coordinator to the MLK Parade progress for years. She ensured that Dr. King’s vision challenged the family and inspired the youth to achieve positive social change.
"Social change can be inspired by motivational speeches. The parade promotes innovation. I have been reaching out to several diverse groups, organizations, churches, colleges, businesses, Cumberland County Schools, and City Departments for this parade to be an inspiration for all ethnic groups and meet the needs of surrounding communities. Nevertheless, it requires time, effort, and perseverance. The organization is dedicated to advancing communities through programs that include food/clothing distribution, family nights, music, food trucks, family and youth wellness, financial classes, housing issues, employment, and community involvement. My vision for the MLK Parade in the future will be music in the downtown park, food trucks, family entertainment, theater plays, vendors and one to two days of celebration dedicated to the MLK Parade and Festival.”
Ford shares leadership aspects as modeled by Dr. Martin Luther King translated to 21st-century youth, “The aspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in my view, has not resonated with some of the youth in the 21st century. Therefore, the FCCMLK Committee may revisit some of the proven strategic objectives to align with Dr. King’s vision. Instruct them on the value of integrity, including demonstrating a character that embraces the environments and traditions of diverse groups. It takes courage to face challenges and changes, but it is important to remain motivated and keep moving forward when we come face to face with roadblocks. Wellness programs are essential to assisting the youth with the tools of understanding their critical thinking processes to have an effective quality of life.
"The ability to lead robustly is necessary for communities to achieve equality, promote growth, and provide social change for youth, provide social change to combat prejudice, and strive for Dr. King’s message for peace and harmony.”
Ford talked about the five major teachings of MLK.
“The youth must understand how to address oppression, language barriers, segregation, social media, technology, laws, and how the local/federal government operates. They must understand different processes of these layers to hold them accountable for negative outcomes. The skill sets to meet the demands of the 21st-century global economy are comprehension of strategies for a coalition with all ethnic groups in America. The youth needs the resources to address the consequences of racism and unfair job opportunities.
"It is vital for young people to collaborate with diverse youth ethnic groups, set goals for education, support one another, and dedicate their lives to empowering all diverse groups to social change. The Black Lives Matter Movement sparked concern when different ethnic groups collaborated to bring about positive civil rights changes through social media websites and global demonstrations due to the power of the youth. Dr. King promoted ethnic pride, unity, recognizing experiences, promote unity, and cultural awareness.”
Celebrate the Martin Luther King Legacy with the Fayetteville Cumberland County Martin Luther King Committee at the MLK Day.

(Photo: The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will be held in downtown Fayetteville, Jan. 18. The parade will help celebrate the legacy and life of MLK Jr.  Photo courtesy of Downtown Fayetteville's Facebook page)