Unity through diversity was the message Monday at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program sponsored by the Greater Texarkana Branch of the NAACP.
Bishop Terry Taylor gave a rousing speech on the program's theme, "Advancing the Dream," and said when King gave his famous speech 54 years ago in Washington, D.C., he was giving an outline of how things should be and that people today should carry that further.
"Dr. King wanted to show us that each and every one of us ought to have a dream, but not only have the dream, we've got to learn how to advance and live in the dream we have," he said.
"Advancing means to move forward in a purposeful waypush on, push forward make progress."
Taylor said the community must also learn to promote its people, along with their strengths and abilities.
"We've to got to be the biggest promoters and promote what ought to be ours anyway," he said. "We have the bravest. We have the brightest. We have the smartest, so we've got to promote who we are. And we ought to tell that louder than anybody else. We've got to learn to aid each other, not pull each other down."
He went on to say they owed it to Dr. King and future generations to keep moving forward and demanding change that will help them get close to reaching the dream.
"A vision of justice and equality for all Americans," he said. "It's not just about us, it's about everybody because if we leave anybody behind, we have not reached the dream that Dr. King spoke about."
Taylor, who has spent 32 years in education, said it is the key to life success for everyone.
"Educational opportunity can help overcome the obstacles that face us in our community," he said. "One of the greatest obstacles that faces us in our community is a quality education. We've got to learn education is the key to moving us where we need to be."
Bobbie Player also spoke during Monday's event, and said many African-Americans were able to live out the dream after the days when they weren't able to use the same water fountains as people who were white.
"Many of us have been able to live out his dream by becoming successful because of the doors being opened that had once been shut in our faces," she said. "Many of us can reminisce from the times that we had to go to the back doors, to even prepare the food for those who would not let us sit at the table with them."
Player also said she hoped everyone was able to appreciate what they've accomplished and help others to reach their goals, as well.
"If we have not made it, hopefully we are thinking of staying on this journey until we do," she said. "This occasion hopefully will enable us to think about those things we can do to lift the spirit of others, to encourage those who have thought as to what they can accomplish as we live out the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, let us focus on the things which he has done. Not just because of the color of our skin, but because of the content of our character."
The Zion District Youth Choir sang during the event, Traveion Taylor gave a dance performance and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority led a candle lighting ceremony for King's six principles of non-violence.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., Feb. 3 at Oak Street Baptist Church, 401 Waterall St., Texarkana, Texas.