On Monday, January 18, 2016, Alcorn State University students went to Port Gibson, Mississippi to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. march. The march is an annual event sponsored by the Claiborne County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Claiborne County’s chapter of the NAACP hosts a march every year on the allotted MLK Day. The march begins at The First Baptist Church of Port Gibson, goes around the block by the County Courthouse and ends back at the church. In participation at the parade were members of the NAACP, Alcorn students, and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, and the Port Gibson High School Marching Band. Citizens of Port Gibson stood along the roadside and watched the march to pay their respect to Dr. King.
Once the march was over, there was a program held in Martin Luther King Jr’s honor at The First Baptist Church. The Mistress of Ceremony for the event was a citizen of Port Gibson, Ms. Mary Wells. She made the event a joyful program with her kind attitude and choice words. The speaker for the hour was Frank Davis, the Sheriff of Claiborne County. Alcorn’s very own Student Government Association President, Adrian McLain was on program to speak on “keeping the dream alive.” He spoke positive words to the young men and women that were present at the program. “We are the future and we must step up and continue to fulfill the dream of a legend,” said McLain.
During the program, they sang old hymns and did reflections on the happenings of Port Gibson during slavery days. First Baptist was the church that was shot up during segregation, according to Sheriff Frank Davis. The town of Port Gibson is known for closing down on Thursdays because Thursday was the day slaves were sold in the town. People that was present at the event were filled with knowledge of the history of Dr. King and the town of Port Gibson.