School superintendent assures residents M. L. King’s dream is still relevant

Kesha Williams
January 21, 2009

 Students, staff, faculty and members of the community marched from the G. R. Little Library on campus to City Hall for the annual commemorative Martin Luther King March. The Office of Student Life at Elizabeth City State University holds the event each year. Mr. Linwood Williams, superintendent of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, was the speaker. Williams told the audience King’s work and legacy of courage continues to stand out. The superintendent assured the audience, King’s dream for America is still alive and relevant.

&quotIt is our charge to keep the dream alive. There has to be meaning and purpose for our lives. We must have a purity of mission, whether it is about educating all people, connecting people to God, making our community safe, feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless or protecting our freedom.&quot

 &quotWe cannot afford to give up or abandon each other or abandon our children. We cannot quit when things get tough. We have to keep going, trying harder all the time and that includes parents, schools, businesses, organizations, churches and even volunteers.&quot

 Williams urged area residents to make a renewed commitment to the region.

 &quotMake this a great place to live, become educated, to work and to become successful. We have to continue the dream by fighting poverty, crime, drug use, hate crimes, and gang activities. Continue the dream by fighting oppression and ignorance. Our community should build the framework for greatness. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.&quot