King’s Asbury visit 56 years after her father spoke here
Part of district's push to build a brighter future for its students
Rev. Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., had but one consistent message during her Wednesday visit to Asbury Park – love and care for the city’s youth is paramount.
“Love compels you to go against the status quo,” she said. “Status quo never brings about change.”
King delivered that message at the historic Paramount Theatre on Ocean Avenue where boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette and master waterfront redeveloper iStar have up the ante in the buildup of the years’ stagnant waterfront district.
At the same time, the school district – under the guidance of Superintendent Lamont Repollet, is working to reinvent failed Abbott District’s image. With the edict of ‘Building a Brighter Future,’ the district has created extracurricular activities to help in the students overall advancement, including their award winning debate and science teams.
They have launched a College and Career Readiness program that, from the 8th grade on, tracks not only a student’s academic progress but also works to gauge their social interests in an attempt to guide them to a viable employment path. The program works with local businesses to obtain summer internships and jobs for high school students.
In December, the program presented a Saving Our Students’ symposium, which brought CNN contributor Steve Perry, Essence magazine Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor, and parenting expert Dr. Deborah Tillman to speak to students and parents about widening the job and educational opportunities for Asbury Park’s students.
King’s visit to Asbury Park falls in line with the district’s Building a Brighter Future mission.
“In October of 1960 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke before a crowd of nearly 1,300 at the Asbury Park High School,” Board of Education President Nicolle Harris said. “In the midst of a country that is still pressing its way to reach Dr. King’s Dream in 2016, I feel that the presence of his daughter Dr. Bernice King will be of great significant this week. We welcome Dr. Bernice King in the same spirit that her father was welcomed 56 years ago, with a spirit of hope, love and expectation of a brighter future.”
King, spoke not only to a crowd of thousands who gathered at the historic theater for school district’s annual Black History Month Extravaganza, but also met with an intimate audience at the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church named in her father’s honor.
“Systems will not save our children,” King said. “The government is not going to intervene and save our children. Each of us that have reached adulthood have to be involved with the next generation. Each one of us have to be involved in making sure not one of our kids slips through the cracks.”
King’s talk at the Paramount Theater was funded by the school district. The Board of Education unanimously voted to pay her $15,000 and an additional $4,000 for travel expenses.
“I was excited about the prospect of Dr. King coming when it was first presented to the board back in the fall. The collective decision of the board to bring Dr. King here to Asbury Park was collaborative and positive. I believe it is a decision that will empower our students and uplift our community.”
King’s inspiration talk traversed the landscape of her father’s legacy to the state of affairs across the nation today. She spoke of the King Foundation’s commitment to visit and work with each school named in her parents honor in order to ensure they are capable of reaching their potential.
“Maybe our system is broken…because we still have segregated schools in America,” she said. “Every school does not have what it needs for every child to succeed. There is not equity in education. I don’t know what the threshold of sick and tired is in Asbury Park but there is a threshold.”
The evening included musical, theatrical, and dance performance by the district’s students. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr, D-6th District presented a certificate of appreciation and newly elected Monmouth County-based Assembly Democrats JoAnn Downey and Eric Houghtaling presented a recognition award to the Charity Kings, a nonprofit that works to support academic excellence, stay in school initiatives and positive family values.
The intimate gathering at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Presbyterian Church in Neptune City was not part of the school district program but a way for King to end her visit and meet with a group of community leaders on a one on one basis.
“They need to know that we care,” King said. “They don’t care about what you know, they care about what you show. We have to take the necessary time because we are in a serious emergency right now. There are many out there who are caring in the wrong way and capturing them. Love compels us to be sacrificient.”
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