MLK Day at Asbury Park Middle School

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January 15, 2015 was a day that Mrs. Major Phillips took the role as
lead teacher to put together a great assembly for Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Day Assembly

This assembly began with Makayla Serrano, Asbury Park Middle School student, singing “Lift Every Voice & Sing.” “Lift Every Voice & Sing” was a song created by James Weldon Johnson.

The lyrics that Makayla mastered were as follows:

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Besides singing “Lift Every Voice & Sing,” Makayla also sang “A
Change Is Gonna Come.” This song was written by Same Cooke. Once again in the same assembly Makayla did a great job singing this song.

The lyrics were as follows:

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don’t hang around

Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will.

Then I go to my brother
And I say, “Brother, help me please.”
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees

There been times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will.

MLK Day : Celebration of Dr. King

In addition to Makayla Serrano, another Asbury Park Middle School student, Icelyn Griffith, read an introduction regarding the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. as well as introduced the guest speaker of the assembly, Mr. Markim Purvis.

During his speech, Mr. Purvis informed the students that Martin Luther King Jr. was given a baton from leaders before him to stress the importance of equality,
the rights of everyone, and education.

He also gave an overview of many important facts from history such as W.E.B. Du Bois encouraging blacks to pursue higher education, the Thirteenth Amendment, the abolishment of slavery, Fourteenth Amendment, equal protection under the law, and the Fifteenth Amendment, the right to vote.

Furthermore, Mr. Purvis stressed that everyone should learn from Martin Luther King Jr. in regards to improving society together to prevent violence and creating a world that everyone gets along. The students were very well attentive to hear Mr. Purvis’ speech.

In closing, during the assembly Mrs. Major-Phillips showed very powerful footage commemorating the 50th anniversary “Selma to Montgomery March.”

The footage showed the hardships that blacks had to endure to justify their right to vote.