NEW ALBANY — Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurred on Jan. 16, and during the federal holiday many celebrations, ceremonies and speeches were held throughout the country.

Like many others, the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp., along with the New Albany-Floyd County Education Association, also had a dinner and presentation planned, but due to weather, the event was rescheduled for Feb. 2, and held in the New Albany High School cafeteria.

Indeed, Teresa Duke, a member of the MLK planning committee, admitted the group had to re-organize, but the dinner catered by Chef Lonnie Donahue and staff of Processor School of Technology Culinary Arts Department, and performances by Connie Webster and the New Albany High School orchestra, attracted quite a crowd.

“I am very happy with the outcome,” Duke said about the dinner that attracted about 250 people.

“It was a great event. I thought the people who rescheduled it made this wonderful. I am very impressed,” said historian Curtis Peters.  

In addition to the belated dinner being a success, it also reminded the public to remember the life of king every day.

“What Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. means to us is not just Martin Luther King Day, or a day in February, but as we live out our lives. I think it was good that this program was delayed,” said keynote guest speaker Ricky L. Jones, Pan African Studies professor at the University of Louisville.

Jones also pointed out that after Martin Luther King Day, people often move on without paying too much attention to MLK’s life and politics.

“It is important for us to understand that Martin Luther King’s life is not just about a day, but it’s about a philosophy. Not just the equality of outcome, but human decency,” Jones said.

Jones also pointed out some misconceptions about King, such as he actually rejected the idea of ministry at first but later chose that path in order to entertain and educate. Jones also reminded everyone that King was smart and disciplined, as he earned a doctorate degree from Boston University at age 24, and he earned a Nobel Peace Award when he was 35, four years before he was shot.  

Jones shared with the audience that he also earned a doctorate at the age of 24 from the University of Kentucky, where he was the first black student to earn a degree in political science. His education success was met even though he grew up in the projects of Atlanta, and was raised by his grandmother who said, “I don’t know what you can do with an education, but I know what you can’t do without one.”

“School and life are about self control, and paying attention to a greater good,” said Jones, who also said that earning a high school education is just the beginning, as is earning a college degree.

 According to Jones, King imagined an America that people often take advantage of today, because in the 1960s, people didn’t sit in integrated rooms talking about such things as education or voting rights.

During his speech, Jones encouraged the audience that there is still progress to be made, especially in areas of education.

• In order to encourage progress in education, on behalf of the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. and Friends of Division Street School, Pamela Peters presented the 2012 Anna Kathryn Hickerson Diversity Award to Alice Miles.

“This is given to an individual who is exemplary in promoting students,  community and cultural awareness. Miles has demonstrated throughout her life a commitment to cultural awareness, and appreciation of diversity of our community,” said Peters, who was the 2011 recipient.

Miles has worked as a school nurse, where she “influenced young people to accept people based on character, rather than color of skin.”  

Miles has also served as a board member of Division Street School, and she serves as the multi-cultural outreach specialist of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.  

After the presentation, Miles admitted that she was rather surprised with the award, as no one told her the news. For Miles, the award was indeed an honor.

“Anna Hickerson was not only a friend, but she was a sister-in-law to an aunt on my mom’s side, so I grew up with her all my life. She was a go-getter and encourager. To get her award, I can’t even tell you, it’s beyond an honor. She was quite a lady”  Miles said.

Giving back to the community is second nature for Miles, and she said she will continue to do so.

“I try to give what has been given to me; love, support and caring. If you hold it in, what good does it do,” said Miles, who was encouraged to go to college by her parents who would always say “when you go to college.”