Children hold a poster with a picture of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as they ride in a truck during the United Ebony society of Gwinnett County’s MLK Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday. Photo: Curt Yeomans
Moore Middle School Principal Lamont Mays evoked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech on Monday while telling participants before the United Ebony Society’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade that they can’t give up the pursuit of King’s dream.
Mays was the grand marshal for the parade in downtown Lawrenceville. Before the parade kicked off from the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, however, organizers held a ceremony to highlight the purpose of the King holiday.
“Our theme this year is ‘Why We Can’t Wait,’” Mays said. “The reason we can’t wait is because … there is still much work to be done.
“MLK was quoted as saying, ‘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.’ That dream, in August 1963, has transcended time and geographic locations and generations. the dream of a better world, not just for ourselves, but for our young and future generations. That dream cannot wait. We cannot wait.”
This year marked the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 that the United Ebony Society has been able to hold the annual parade.
The COVID—19 pandemic stopped the 2021 from being held and a new surge in cases, as well as a call from King’s family to focus on efforts getting voting rights legislation passed instead of parades, kept the 2022 event from being held as well.
But, with clear skies, temperatures in the 50’s and COVID largely in the past, there was nothing that could stop the parade from coming back this year.
“This is the day that the Lord has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it,” United Ebony Society President Zachary Pratt said. “We are here this morning to celebrate and to commemorate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Let’s give him a handclap of praise.
“This celebrates his 94th birthday, which would have been yesterday.”
The parade made its way through downtown Lawrenceville after leaving the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and headed to Bicentennial Plaza before coming down South Perry Street and taking Nash Street over to Central Gwinnett High School.
The parade included civic groups, churches, elected officials, Black fraternities and sororities, youth groups, a Girl Scouts troop, dance groups, cheerleaders, community assistance organizations and the Berkmar High School band.
“We are gathered today because we understand both the significance and the imperative or working together to realize the dream,” Mays said. “Countless stories exist of people in our community who have seen the need and have united in order to realize the dreams of others.
“The dream was never meant to be realized in solitude. In fact, the people in our lives are unique and necessary pieces to the puzzle in achieving the dream.”
Lawrenceville Mayor David Still and City Council members Marlene Taylor-Crawford, Victoria Jones and Glenn Martin presented a proclamation to Pratt before the parade to recognize the United Ebony Society and to celebrate the parade’s return.
Much has changed politically in Gwinnett County since the parade was last held in 2020 because of several history—making elections. The last three years has seen the county’s voters elect the first Black county commission chairperson, sheriff, district attorney and clerk of courts in Gwinnett history.
Statewide, Rev. Raphael Warnock became Georgia’s first Black U.S. senator in January 2021 by winning a special election. He was re—elected to a full term last month.
“In the state and even across our nation, we’ve seen some gains,” Sheriff Keybo Taylor told parade participants. “And, here in Gwinnett County, we’ve seen our Blacks and more minorities and more women being elected to our school boards, our commission boards, other county-wide offices.
“Even right now, we have the first Black elected county commission chair in Nicole Love Hendrickson, and I know I might not get a clap, but I’m also proud to be the first Black elected sheriff of Gwinnett County.”
Mays said people should take time to soak up the history of what has happened in the community and what people have been able to accomplish. He urged parade participants to make sure they took in everything that they saw and heard on Monday.
“I hope you soak in these moments,” he said. “I encourage you to connect with other people and be motivated by the many stories of triumph, and to also be challenged by dreams that are still deferred.
“Regardless of your age, race, background, financial standing and education, you can still make a difference.”
Photo: Curt YeomansPhoto: Andrew Weathers
A trombone player in the Berkmar High School marching band performs in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Spectators watch the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade pass by on South Perry Street in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
A child holds a sign in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Members of the United Ebony Society wave to spectators during the organization’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. participate in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Members of the Grace Snell Middle School cheerleading squad participate in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Members of the Fierce Xtreme cheerleading group perform a cheer during the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
The drum majors for the Berkmar High School marching band lead the band during the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Curt Yeomans
Moore Middle School Principal Lamont Mays talks about the ongoing work to fulfill Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial equality during a ceremony before the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday. Mays was the grand marshal for the parade.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
A Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. member holds up a pro–voting sign during the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
A participant in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade wears a sweatshirt advocating support for Black literature on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
United Ebony Society President Zachary Pratt addresses participants in the organization’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade during a ceremony before the event kicked off in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
An illustration of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stands on a podium at a celebration at Central Gwinnett High School after the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Books on the lives of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Shirley Chisholm, as well as why Black children matter, were on display during a celebration at Central Gwinnett High School that capped off the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
United Ebony Society President Zachary Pratt addresses attendees during a celebration at Central Gwinnett High School that capped off the organization’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Weathers
Moore Middle School Principal Lamont Mays addresses participants in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade before he event kicked off in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Curt Yeomans
Dancers with the Berkmar High School marching band perform in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
Photo: Curt Yeomans
The Berkmar High School marching band performs in the United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Lawrenceville on Monday.
