MANSFIELD, Ohio – On the eve of the day carrying his name, the city of Mansfield gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Themes of love and acceptance were emphasized repeatedly within the chapel of Oasis of Love C.O.G.I.C. as invited speakers explored the quest for equality in today’s world.
“One of our problems as a society is we have forgotten how to love, or perhaps we never learned how to love thy neighbor,” said Rev. Dr. Thomas Hunt, the featured speaker. “And who is thy neighbor? We should know our neighbor is not based on the color of our skin, but based on our shared love for one another.”
The pastor of Providence Baptist Church and outgoing president of the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (which sponsored the evening), Hunt recalled the first time he experienced racism – as a 9-year-old boy. His white friend told him they were no longer allowed to play together.
“That hurt me so much,” Hunt said.
Rather than giving in to hatred, Hunt’s parents taught him to embrace the teachings of Martin Luther King and choose love.
“That kind of love they had, it transcends all economic classes and values,” Hunt said. “We were taught thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.”
One person who took to King’s legacy to heart was Richland Source Publisher Jay Allred, who was invited to speak. Allred shared his story of growing up in the 1970s in Montana, the state with the nation’s smallest population of black Americans.
“My mother always made sure I knew I shared a birthday with a great American – not a great black American, a great American,” Allred said of Dr. King. “I must for the sake of my daughters unite with my wife and embrace every opportunity to make a difference in the world.”
Mayor Tim Theaker presented a proclamation from the city describing King as “the nation’s most renowned prophet of non-violence.”
“Dr. Martin Luther King was a visionary, and if he was here today this is his vision that he would’ve seen: Everyone here in unity,” Theaker said. “He was a visionary and a dreamer, and we can’t forget that. There is a lot more to do.”
Hunt acknowledged that hatred still exists based on skin color, economic status and learned prejudices. He recalled the words of King, that society must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools.
“Society today struggles mightily with this statement, for we are pitted against each other on every front,” Hunt said. “As long as we put emphasis on our differences in a demeaning way, we will perish as fools.
“Regardless of what your status is, I should grab you by the hand and say you are somebody, you are a man I can put my hand in and say thank you for being who you are.”
