LOCAL EVENTS HONOR THE MAN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD.
The Improvement League of Plant City celebrated the 40th Annual Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Festival January 17 through 20. The theme for the festival was “Preserving Freedom, Justice and Democracy,” and highlighted the contributions of some individuals who broke barriers as African Americans.
“Since the 40 years we have been celebrating Martin Luther King Jr….I can recall the first day that we had it,” James McDaniel, a graduate of Marshall High School commented. “It has grown tremendously in Plant City from being a one-day event in which we had several people that would give their reflections on MLK—not only on the influence on our lives, but also our community, and the United States as a whole. We thank the Improvement League, which has done such a tremendous job while creating this….We have seen that they have had many things to help emphasize the need for us to continue and strive to realize the dream that Martin Luther King shared back in August of 1963. We realize that dream hasn’t been totally fulfilled, because people are still judged based upon the color of their skin. Hopefully, one day, we will look just at what the content of character has indicated. That should be the emphasis on how people look at us.” Now retired, McDaniel made a difference as a professor at Hillsborough Community College.
Friday saw the opening ceremony at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. Reverend Jason Montgomery, pastor at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, began with an opening prayer. Then a Lincoln Elementary Magnet School Student led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
“This is a day for us to celebrate,” City Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis said during the ceremony. “This is the Day that the Lord has made. We all need to rejoice and be glad in it. On behalf of Mayor Kilton, Vice Mayor Jones, Commissioner Sparkman, and Commissioner Dodson, I bring you greetings from the City of Plant City. January 15, 1929 a great man was born….To the Improvement League of Plant City, thank you for 40 years of celebration….To all of you, may God bless you, God keep you, may He shine upon you, and always give you peace.”
The Lincoln Elementary String Ensemble performed two pieces. Then Marshall Middle Magnet School students who are a part of Gentlemen’s Quest stood and dramatically told the account of God’s creation, followed by a series of wisdom quotations.
“The young kids that performed this morning….they’ve been doing that for the past three or four years and I really enjoy them,” Terry Jackson said.
In the keynote address, Reverend Jason Montgomery drew parallels between the Biblical Nehemiah, and the life and legacy of Dr. King. Among other things, Montgomery made the point that at that time Nehemiah saw brokenness. Like Nehemiah, Dr. King saw the broken spirit of black people from segregation, racism, and systematic injustice. “He did not turn away from the burden, but leaned into it with faith, courage, and determination.”
“This is my first time attending the opening ceremony, and I absolutely loved it,” Jessica Ray said. “My daughter performed with Lincoln. She is a violinist….The ceremony was so good I decided to stay, and I will definitely be attending again. What was so meaningful was the remembrance of Dr. King…Dr. King wasn’t just for one specific race, he was for everybody. And to see everybody come together like that—it was just beautiful.”
“We have dedicated the Improvement League to do that which is positive, and we look forward to this during the event,” Henry Davis, a member of the Board of Directors said. “We love to see people come out to enjoy what we are doing.”
On Saturday, the Annual Plant City Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Parade took place in Downtown Plant City. Assistant Principal of Marshall Middle Magnet School, Chandra Todd, took the role of parade Grand Marshal. Hillsborough County Public Schools recognized her as Assistant Principal of the Year in 2024. Several floats, seven marching bands, more than 50 Corvettes from Tampa Bay Posse Corvette Club, and the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club were among those who paraded through downtown Plant City.
After the parade, the Martin Luther King Jr. Expo and TECO Battle of the Drumlines competition took place at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. High school, middle school, and elementary school bands competed for cash prizes and trophies. Afterwards, local musicians performed on stage.
On Sunday morning, an MLK Leadership Breakfast took place at the Trinkle Center on the Hillsborough Community College campus in Plant City. More than 300 people heard the keynote address from retired special forces Colonel Donald Jackson. The Plant City MLK Leadership Breakfast Community Champion Award was presented to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Black Community Relations Committee. Also, the Improvement League and its partners announced scholarships for local graduating students. Christian Gambrell, Mikaih Hallbeck, and Khalid Polk each garnered $700 to use at the college of their choice.
The final event landed on Monday when the GFWC Women’s Club of Plant City hosted a Day of Service ceremony. Students presented readings about Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. The Women’s Club offered attendees the chance to join in this pledge: “I believe in a community of justice, equal opportunity, and love of my fellow human beings. I want to help build a world that leaves no room for poverty, prejudice, or violence. I pledge to work together with my neighbors, side-by-side to create strength, stability, and self-reliance. And if I can’t do anything else, I can always be kind.”
Dr. King’s work lives on in Plant City.
