It was a nice, sunny morning in
Fayetteville, Arkansas on Monday January 19, 2015. It was Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day and the people of Fayetteville were gathering to honor him
through the Annual MLK march, and other activities scheduled for the day.
It was being staged in the Walton Arts Center parking lot.
This year, I chose to document the march for my own edification, to spur my
creativity, and to create a record. A record to say, "We were here. We
remember. We made a statement. We stood for something." I watched as the
various individuals, families, groups milled around and eventually became one .
. . big . . . burgeoning . . .mass.
I wandered through
the mass, watching as friends spotting each other in the crowd, gathered with
hugs and shouts of delight, kids running in and out between adults, and old
heads laughing and talking together.
The mass included a wide variety of races, creeds and
ethnicities. There was a lot of mingling between groups, but there were also
some very distinct separations. At first, I admit, I was a little concerned
about it. However, I realized I had to take into account the social psychology
theory of public gatherings. We as human beings are more comfortable with the
familiar. So we tend to gravitate toward people who are more like us. And that’s
what I think happened with the groupings.
The entire crowd was lively and cheerful. They all came to
attention when the organizers got up to do their opening remarks and to
introduce the mayor. Mayor Lioneld Jordan addressed the crowd emphasizing the beauty
of cooperation and working together to make Fayetteville the best place it can
be for all of its citizens. After the speech and pleasantries, it was time to
head out on the march. With police escort leading the way, the crowd ambled
forward.
I walked along beside the crowd, snapping shot after shot.
After a few shots of the marchers coming out of the Walton Arts Center parking
lot, I began to get a better since of the size of the overall group. I am glad
to say the size was larger than I anticipated. It helped that the weather was
good. There were old and young, men and women, black and white, Asian and
Hispanic, Marshallese and others, bicycles and baby carriages, banner carriers
and protest signs.
An ode to recent events, there was a Black Lives Matters
sign. One fervent marcher/protester held aloft a "CIA killed MLK"
sign. He also had a book with him and he said held the proof. The crowd walked
along with the lively cadence, songs and chants from the lead vehicles.
As we rounded the
last turn going to the Arkansas Union, I watched as the lifted spirits made
their way to their destination. I could see the smiles gleaming from a sense of
accomplishment and from being a part of something significant and bigger than
themselves.
Dr. King, the Dream continues . . .!
Story by Tony Boyd
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