Ocean City Intermediate School students read essays about slain civil rights leader’s impact and legacy at city’s annual celebration
OCEAN CITY — Four Ocean City Intermediate School students demonstrated an impressive grasp of the importance the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had on this nation and what his legacy means today.
Seventh-graders Jane Heng and Grace Kane and eighth-graders Ava Clevenger and Darrien Mayo read their winning essays Saturday during Ocean City’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Ocean City Tabernacle. Introduced by OCIS Principal Matt Engle, the four students stood in front of the large crowd gathered for the celebration and talked of Dr. King’s impact on history, what good came about because of his activism, what he inspires today and the work still to be done.
The civil rights leader was assassinated April 4, 1968. He was 39.
What follows are excerpts from the students’ essays.
Improving America
“With his legacy of peaceful protests, Dr. King significantly impacts today’s social movements by presenting a great model for nonviolent activism” in spite of the threats to himself, Jane wrote.
“Dr. King lived with six principles” that demonstrated his commitment to nonviolence, she added. “‘One can resist evil without resorting to violence.’ Second, nonviolence seeks to win the ‘friendship and understanding’ of the opponent, not to humiliate him. Third, evil itself, not the people committing evil acts, should be opposed. Fourth, those committed to nonviolence must be willing to suffer without retaliation as suffering itself can be redemptive. Fifth, nonviolent resistance avoids ‘external physical violence’ and ‘internal violence of spirit’ as well.
“The sixth principle is that the nonviolent resister must have a ‘deep faith in the future,’ stemming from the conviction that ‘the universe is on the side of justice,’” she wrote.
“Dr. King helped shape America to be better. His legacy of peaceful protest inspired other activists to fight for justice,” Jane wrote. “Because he fought for one cause, others had the inspiration needed to fight for more causes, to improve America for the better.”
A visionary of peace
Grace wrote how Dr. King’s vision inspired modern protests, including the Black Lives Matter movement, the Women’s March in 2017 and Pride marches for the LGBTQI community.
“It’s King’s message of hope and resilience that continues to inspire activists. Here in our town of Ocean City I witnessed MLK’s long-lasting influence from the teaching of acceptance at our schools and churches to the peaceful marches across the bridge. Individuals here in our town and across the world continue to follow the lessons that King taught us,” she wrote.
“By coming together and advocating for the change we want in the world, King taught us to live by a moral compass, to respect and appreciate the uniqueness of all individuals. … If it wasn’t for King and so many others, America would not be a symbol of equality and freedom but a place of fear and bitterness.”
Personal inspiration
Darrien wrote about Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech before 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963.
“This speech was for equality, justice and world peace, and so that nobody would be judged by the color of their skin. … He wanted to make a difference in our world and change the generation that we live in now,” he wrote.
After explaining how Dr. King risked his own life, being arrested more than 25 times, Darrien called him “a true hero.”
“He did not stop working hard and became tired over time and failed many times by getting sent to jail, but that doesn’t mean he quit, so that means I shouldn’t quit either,” he wrote.
The work isn’t done
“Stand up for what is right,” Ava wrote. “Dr. King’s legacy continues to remind us that, no matter the challenges, we all have the responsibility to stand up for what is right.”
She noted that she “thought that prejudice and racism was a part of history. However, I was amazed to hear that it still exists in today’s youth.”
Noting the 1963 speech, she wrote how King “shared his vision for a future where people would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. He dreamed of a country where everyone had equal rights, regardless of race. … He reminded us all that standing up for what is right requires perseverance and hope.”
“His commitment to peace, equality and justice has shaped our world in ways we still see today. We can honor his legacy by standing up for what we believe in and working toward a future where everyone is treated with respect and fairness,” Ava wrote, concluding, “The fight for justice is not over, and it is up to all of us to continue the work that Dr. King started.”
State Assemblyman Antwan McClellan presented each of the students with a proclamation from the state Legislature.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff