Martin Luther King Day has been celebrated in America for four decades. King is known for his bravery and his stand for equal opportunities and freedom for African Americans.
Proud Loving Individuals Giving a Hand to Teens (PLIGHT) decided not to wait until MLK Day to celebrate the national holiday.
The MLK Breakfast celebration has been going on for more than 30 years. Over 375 people attended this year’s MLK Breakfast at the Tift County Recreation Department on 401 Victory Drive.
PLIGHT has taken numerous steps to reach you in the Tifton community, including taking courses at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) and engaging in events like Light up Your Love, Arts and Black Festival, and back-to-school workshops.
PLIGHT also has Red Ribbon Week, as well as tutoring programs with both Eight Street and Northeast Middle School in Tifton.
Carolyn Day, a long-time member of PLIGHT, said, “…we see ourselves as being an umbrella organization where others could come and work with us in the community.” Day and other members of PLIGHT are continuing to figure out ways to reach out to more youth in Tifton.
Day said, “We leave the community for a weekend, and our focus is on PLIGHT.” PLIGHT looks to moving forward, to reach their goal of stopping teen pregnancy, educating teens about drugs, and providing a positive environment for the youth in Tifton.
President of PLIGHT Margaret Brown said that she first joined PLIGHT in 2019. Brown had known about PLIGHT for a while before joining.
“I came in I wanted to just serve and help,” Brown said. Eventually, she moved up to the vice president position and has been the president of PLIGHT since 2022.
Brown talked about how the older members “passed along the touch,” allowing others to learn from them and follow in their footsteps.
She said, “One big thing we focus on is getting your education and making something of yourself to be a positive attribute.”
The theme for this year’s MLK Breakfast was “Love, Power, and Justice.” Commissioner Melissa Hughes began the service and asked if children in the audience could assist her.
Next, the congregational anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was sung. A greeting was delivered by Ms. Clara Love-Gray. Musical selections were played by Mr. Jerry Moss and Mr. Harold E. Thomas throughout the breakfast.
Breakfast was then served. Shortly after breakfast, Reverend Ronnie B. Brinson, Jr. delivered his message, “We don’t die, we multiply.”
The program was followed by the Spirit of Service Awards, which were given to Ms. Leila and Mr. Reginald Phillips for their commitment. This was followed by an update from Ms. Penny Cannon and closing remarks from President Margaret Brown.
The Board of Education, Judge Melanie Cross, TRMC, Zeta PHI Beta sorority, and others attended the MLK Breakfast as well. African American Male Initiative (AAMI) attended the breakfast for the very first time.
ABAC professor Dr. Jewrell Rivers said, “It was an opportunity to join with other Black professionals in the community, in celebrating the MLK legacy and his charge to us to continue the work that needs to be done.”
The Arts and Black Festival will be held May 3 and 4, 2024, and an upcoming play called “The Funeral is Cancelled” will begin in Apr. 2024.