By Katie Goerl
Geary County Historical Society Museum
Memories at the Museum Thursday evening opened the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Junction City. A total of 34 people were in attendance for the Memories event.
Former Coretta Scott-King Courage Award recipients Delilah Hamilton and Margaret Kilpatrick shared personal history and their memories of the Civil Rights Movement. Hamilton and Kilpatrick both shared vivid recollections of moments in their past when they became aware of the reality of racial segregation.
MLK Committee members and audience members asked questions and discussed the history of racial politics and segregation in Junction City. They also spoke about Ruby Steven's role in establishing MLK Celebrations in Junction City.
Before the program MLK Committee Chair Daphne Maxwell played a recording of Coretta Scott-King's own words, and to conclude the program, Maxwell asked Hamilton and Kilpatrick to choose one word for the audience to reflect on. Hamilton chose "unity" and Kilpatrick "Love."
MLK celebration activities will include with a Gospel Tribute on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Second Missionary Baptist Church, the MLK Observance at the C.L. Hoover Opera House at 10 a.m. followed by the Community Walk downtown. Brotherhood in Action Day will be held at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
