King’s daughter heads to SM to honor her late father’s legacy
By Daily Press staff
Martin Luther King’s first-born daughter is coming to Santa Monica to be part of the region’s largest celebration of the Civil Rights leader.
Yolanda King, Martin Luther King’s eldest daughter, will be the keynote speaker at the celebration of Dr. King’s life on Jan. 16.
King will be introduced by Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., who is the first dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta and the founder of the Gandhi Institute for Reconciliation.
The free event — which has become one of the largest celebrations of its kind in Southern California — will end with a march two blocks to the dedication of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. auditorium in the new Santa Monica Public Library.
The event is coordinated by the Martin Luther King, Jr. westside coalition, a nonprofit coalition whose missions are consistent with King’s legacy. It is cosponsored by Santa Monica College, the city of Santa Monica, and the SMC Associates.
The multi-ethnic, interfaith program also will include inspirational readings, music and presentations of scholarships. The theme is “State of the Union: A Time for Love, Not Hate; for Understanding, Not Anger; for Peace, Not War.”
King is founder and CEO of Higher Ground Productions, an organization dedicated to teaching people to celebrate diversity and embrace unity. She is a veteran speaker and actor who has performed or lectured in 49 of 50 states, as well as in Europe, Africa and Asia for educational, business, religious and civic organizations.
She is the author or co-author of two books, “Open My Eyes” and “Open My Soul and Embracing Your Power in 30 Days.”
After receiving a bachelor’s degree with honors from Smith College, King received a master’s degree in theater from New York University, and directed and performed in productions in that area. As an actor, she has done several roles in films that have to do with social change, including playing Rosa Parks in the NBC-TV movie “King;” Dr. Betty Shabazz in the film “Death of a Prophet” and Medgar Evers’ daughter Reena in “Ghosts of Mississippi.”
King has received many honors and serves on the boards of several organizations dedicated to missions such as social change, justice and peace.
The event will be held at the Soka Gakai International auditorium, located at 525 Wilshire Blvd. The celebration begins at 9 a.m., and the dedication will be at noon.
For more information, call (310) 434-4003.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 22, 2005. Read the original PDF.