theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

Red, Black & Blue

Inauguration Day marks rare intersection with Martin Luther King

by Kate Brumback, Associated Press | January 18, 2013 at 8:56 AM
Comments
Print
In this combination of file photos, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a peace rally in New York on April 15, 1967, left, and President Barack Obama speaks at an election night party in Chicago after winning a second term in office on Nov. 7, 2012. Inauguration Day coincides with the King holiday, marking what some say is an inextricable tie between the nation's first black president and the civil rights movement. Obama plans to incorporate the legacy of that movement into his inauguration. (AP Photo, File)

In this combination of file photos, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a peace rally in New York on April 15, 1967, left, and President Barack Obama speaks at an election night party in Chicago after winning a second term in office on Nov. 7, 2012. Inauguration Day coincides with the King holiday, marking what some say is an inextricable tie between the nation's first black president and the civil rights movement. Obama plans to incorporate the legacy of that movement into his inauguration. (AP Photo, File)

Related Posts

  • Bernice King remembers MLK's act of 'gun control'
  • Georgia man restores MLK Bible for Obama inauguration
  • Restored MLK church re-opening in Atlanta
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Facebook page vandalized
  • Small group of protesters urges jobs not war at inauguration

ATLANTA (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to use a Bible that belonged to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as he takes his oath of office on the holiday honoring the slain icon, marking what some say is an inextricable tie between the nation’s first black president and the civil rights movement.

It’s only the second time Inauguration Day has coincided with the King holiday. Some say it’s only fitting the celebrations are intertwined.

“It’s almost like fate and history coming together,” said U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who worked alongside King in the fight for civil rights during the 1950s and ’60s and plans to attend the inauguration. “If it hadn’t been for Martin Luther King Jr., there would be no Barack Obama as president.”

Some King commemorations have been shuffled around to accommodate the inauguration, though others are going on as planned.

King’s youngest daughter, Bernice King, plans to attend the observance of her father’s memory at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he preached, and said she doesn’t fear the inauguration will overshadow the celebration.

“I think it enhances the observance, actually, because it heightens people’s awareness about the King holiday,” she said. “I also think it gives some sort of validation to the significant work that my father made to this country, to this world, in fact.”

The only other time a presidential inauguration has fallen on the King holiday was in 1997 at the start of President Bill Clinton’s second term. Clinton invoked King’s memory in his inaugural address, and events were planned throughout the inauguration weekend to commemorate King.

“Thirty-four years ago, the man whose life we celebrate today spoke to us down there at the other end of this Mall in words that moved the conscience of a nation. Like a prophet of old, he told of his dream that one day America would rise up and treat all its citizens as equals before the law and in the heart,” Clinton said in his address. “Martin Luther King’s dream was the American dream.”

Obama plans to incorporate the legacy of the civil rights movement into his inauguration. Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers, is slated to deliver the invocation.

The president also plans to take the oath of office for his second term with his hand on two Bibles, one owned by King and one by Abraham Lincoln. As he takes the oath, Obama will be facing the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech 50 years ago this August.

Having the president call for her father’s Bible was a special moment, Bernice King said.

“What a significant honor,” she said. “To me, it’s like another elevation for my father.”

Obama also plans to honor King throughout his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to volunteer in their communities on Saturday to honor the civil right leader’s legacy of service. Inaugural planners also say there will be a float honoring King in the parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony.

In Washington and Baltimore, however, annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parades have been moved to avoid conflicting with the inauguration. The Baltimore parade, typically a major event in the majority-black city, will be held Saturday.

The parade along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in southeast Washington has been moved to April 20, the 50-year anniversary of King’s release from a Birmingham, Ala., jail.

In Montgomery, Ala., where King did some of his early civil rights work while pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the annual parade and rally at the state Capitol are to be held as normal Monday, though some prominent black politicians will miss it because they’ll be at the inauguration.

The National Civil Rights Museum — the site of the Memphis motel where King was fatally shot on a balcony on April 4, 1968 — is hosting a food drive and blood drive, and touring a new exhibit focused on African-American women in the civil rights movement. However, much of the facility is closed for renovations, and it will not host an inauguration watch party.

Bernice King, who is also president and CEO of The King Center, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting her father’s legacy, said she’s not worried about the inauguration drawing people away from the annual celebration at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which will include watching the inauguration on a big screen after the service.

“Everybody can’t go to the inauguration,” she said. “Part two of our service is this inaugural watch party, so hopefully people will not stay home, but they will come and be in an environment of other people who feel good about this moment in history. It’s just going to be a great day.”

___

Associated Press writers Ben Nuckols in Washington, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tenn., and Bob Johnson in Montgomery, Ala., contributed to this report.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

  • In this April 4, 2012 file photo, people visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington. Whether visitors want to try one of the first family’s favorite restaurants, discover a sense of history or escape from the crowd to find a museum off the beaten path, Washington is the nation’s cultural capital this weekend for inauguration visitors. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
    Next Story:

    Beyond Obama’s oath, what to see and taste in DC

  • Photo Credit: Pete Souza
    Previous Story:

    President Obama’s official portrait for 2nd term released

Filed in: Politics, Washington DC | Related Topics: Atlanta, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Inauguration, King Center, Martin Luther King Day, Martin Luther King Jr, MLK, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Washington DC
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • ‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini dead ‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini dead
    • On Frederick Douglass: No progress without struggle On Frederick Douglass: No progress without struggle
    • Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the end of slavery Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the end of slavery
    • ‘House of Curves’ host defends show ‘House of Curves’ host defends show
    • Zimmerman jurors asked about neighborhood watch
    • Blogging While Brown conference coming Friday to New York City
    • The top 5 rap lyrics of the week
    • Victim’s mother spends 20 years fighting police brutality
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • Vice President Joe Biden (L), Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (2nd-L) and others react after U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill designating the First State Monument, in Delaware, a National Monument, during a bill signing ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 25, 2013 in Washington, D.C.  (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

    White House fight for gun control is far from over

  • House takes up far-reaching anti-abortion bill

  • Jesse Jackson Jr. wants to serve prison time before wife

  • First lady inspires youth of Ireland

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • This May 1, 2013 file photo shows Jay-Z at "The Great Gatsby" world premiere at Avery Fisher Hall in New York.  (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, file )

    With Samsung, business is booming for Jay-Z

  • Jay-Z announces new album

  • Dunkin' Donuts: Workers who endured racist rant will be 'honored'

  • Greene Scholars seeks to place black youth in STEM jobs

» Read More in Business

Living

  • Attendees at the Boston Prostate Cancer Educational Symposium, June 16, 2013

    Churches saving lives, not just souls

  • Climate change vs. black America

  • Serena Williams works teeny bikini on Miami Beach

  • Daughter inspires mom's natural hair care company

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Ethel “Ellie” Hylton

    Woman graduates with highest GPA at Harvard

  • Ne-Yo: Fatherhood 'means being there'

  • Adele honored by Queen Elizabeth II

  • Man finds father through Facebook

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Kanye West (Getty)

    Kanye's 10 career defining songs

  • Vin Diesel talks new 'Riddick' film

  • 'Dark Girls' set to debut on OWN

  • Scott Disick plays 'American Psycho' for Kanye

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • This undated family photo shows Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, who was shot and killed Sunday, May 16, 2010, by a shot from a Detroit police officer during a raid to arrest a murder suspect (AP Photo/Family Photo via The Detroit News)

    Jury can't reach verdict in Aiyana Jones shooting case

  • Surfer shot at during Dorner hunt files lawsuit

  • 911 call debated at Zimmerman trial

  • Mom seeks help to find son's killer

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP