Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Honored in 53rd Memorial Celebration

Dr. Valerie Ruby Ingram recalled many of New Britain’s great African-American leaders and the “holy ground” of the old Hartford Avenue neighborhood at the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration.

Dr. Ingram delivered the keynote address at the 2021 annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration, held by the Mary McLeod Bethune Club each year. The event is an annual celebration of the Rev. Dr. King and the continuing work of the Civil Rights Movement each April, commemorating his assassination on April 4, 1968.

The event is held at New Britain’s Monument to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., located at the corner of Stanley Street and Smalley Street.

“I stand before you with honor in front of the MLK statue,” said Dr. Ingram, “that bears the names of many of the city’s forefathers, mothers and families that against all odds fought to have this erected so that their tomorrows would be our today.”

Dr. Ingram said,

I honor Mrs. Janice Choice Edward and Mr. Alton Brooks as elders that were instrument in the journey of the monument. I pay homage to Pearl Eatmon, my mother, Mrs. Armentha Coley, Gladys Pennington, Wanda Clinkscale, Chief Clifford Willis, Connie Collins, Emma Pierce many clergy along with others in the community for their efforts and sacrifices.

She especially said that,

I recognize it was the voice of one women, Mrs. Iola Choice, the Founder and first President of the Mary McCloud Bethune Club that spearheaded the concept of a erecting a statue for this community so many years ago.

She reminded those assembled about the activism that surrounded the Martin Luther King Monument at the annual remembrance of which this year’s Memorial Celebration was the 53rd. In the past, the event included a march across the city. She noted that,

At 13, I with over 300 residents of New Britain walked link arm in arm in celebration of the erection of this mighty statue at its original site singing “We Shall Overcome,” I was just a kid…..not knowing that at the march here in the City mirrored the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Alabama march that was simply campaigning for voter rights.

Dr. Ingram recalled that the Monument is located where New Britain’s Hartford Avenue was located, saying,

I would be remiss not to acknowledge that where we stand right now at this moment North, South, East and West is holy ground. Still clad with its remnants of that era it’s referred to as New Britain’s Harlem, Hartford Avenue. A neighborhood of cooperative economics and purpose where black people, lived, attended schools, worshiped, shopped and collectively thrived.

Democrat Veronica T. DeLandro, who is exploring a campaign for Mayor, joined about fifty in attendance at 2021 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Celebration.

At the time of his assassination, Dr. King was in the middle of organizing the Poor People’s Campaign, proposing a progressive set of reforms that would have guaranteed for everyone in the nation decent paying jobs, guaranteed minimum incomes, decent housing, quality education, participatory democracy and universal health care.

Ald. Kristian Rosado, the President Pro-Tempore of the City Council was the only elected official in attendance at the event.

At the event, Jerrell Hargraves, the city’s Human Rights Officer. also announced that the city Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is providing the opportunity for people to have personalized bricks placed in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to raise funds to repair the existing bricks in the park.

The bricks in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park include the names of many of the notable figures in the city, past and present.

The new bricks are available for $75, plus $25 per mini-replica brick. More information is available at the Office of Human Rights and Opportunities at 860-826-3411 or at [email protected].

Dr. Ingram’s full address at the Memorial Celebration was,

Good afternoon,

I greet you with an abundance of peace and prosperity

In my ancestry permission from the elders is required to continue any ceremony, at this time I will ask Queen Janice Choice -Edwards permission to continue… Ase

As we gather today an over a year into this pandemic that we never envisioned in our life time before I begin I ask we take a brief moment of silence for families who has lost love ones

I stand before you with honor in front of the MLK statue that bears the names of many of the city’s forefathers, mothers and families that against all odds fought to have this erected so that their tomorrows would be our today. I honor Mrs. Janice Choice Edward and Mr. Alton Brooks as elders that were instrument in the journey of the monument. I pay homage to Pearl Eatmon, my mother, Mrs. Armentha Coley, Gladys Pennington, Wanda Clinkscale, Chief Clifford Willis, Connie Collins, Emma Pierce many clergy along with others in the community for their efforts and sacrifices. I recognize it was the voice of one women, Mrs. Iola Choice, the Founder and first President of the Mary McCloud Bethune Club that spearheaded the concept of a erecting a statue for this community so many years ago. I would be remiss not to acknowledge that where we stand right now at this moment North, South, East and West is holy ground. Still clad with its remnants of that era it’s referred to as New Britain’s Harlem, Hartford Avenue. A neighborhood of cooperative economics and purpose where black people, lived, attended schools, worshiped, shopped and collectively thrived.

Which bridges the theme for today’s event is “We grow as one and we rise as one.” It expresses unity and collaboration to encourage and inspire each other’s. The words send a message that there is strength in numbers, whereas doing things alone is harder and invites failure. Often time we are lead to believe that in order to grow the soil has to be tilled, it has to be fertilized, it requires water and sunlight yet… a seed is planted in darkness ….first as it grows roots, then a small plant emerges, it breaks through the soil and sprouts… its germination it happens in stages.

Unity happens when cultivation occurs embracing our similarities and flourish through our differences. Continuing to Build relationships with people who have common interest and some who don’t, with those share the same cultures and language and those who don’t, Let’s get uncomfortable comfortable to grow, as seeds. Let’s build bonds with people who share various, faiths, education, social economic status, sexual orientation and political parties. As a recovery community let us continue to strengthen messages of hope and life after active addiction, let’s get uncomfortably comfortable having candid, honest, open conversation on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to provide nourishment as a community. To expand as one we must sever the weeds that obstruct progress within ourselves, our families, our organizations and society. recognizing that personalities do not and will not out weight principles and in the end we all reap what we sow. We grow as one and we rise as one we, yet we have to be in the same accord to advance as one or we die as one

Many of us here can quote phrases from Dr. MLK August 28, 1963 speech to a massive group of civil rights marches around the Lincoln monument in Washington, DC. Originality titled NORMALCY Never again, yet commonly referred to as the “I Have a Dream” speech… that day I was 55 days old and my community activism began. At 13, I with over 300 residents of New Britain walked link arm in arm in celebration of the erection of this mighty statue at its original site singing “We Shall Overcome,” I was just a kid…..not knowing that at the march here in the City mirrored the1965 Selma to Montgomery Alabama march that was simply campaigning for voter rights. A 5 day, 54 mile march crossing Edmund Pettus Bridge as a peaceful protest to Bloody Sunday that happened 2 days prior. Where state troopers bombarded marchers including clergy, students, men and women when they knelt to pray at the bridge with tear gas under the orders of the Governor George Wallace. You see we must get uncomfortable to know where we’ve been to see where were going.

The echoes of our city trailblazers reminds us that at one time this city thrived as the hardware capital of the world, but as all things that time came to an end. For the last several years the city has been reconstructed for its life for its future. While it is not a picture perfect town it’s certainly full of hope and pride. For many of us that one similarity is our Hurricane pride. We hail our Alma Mater! New Britain High with joy and with pride we do hail thy, Red and Gold. For some it is the history of pride with Pulaski or Aquinas High School, it’s our family’s, our struggles are triumphs our setbacks, our neighbors, our neighborhoods our ongoing growth

In closing I challenge each person to move out of your own way in order to grow so that we collectively may rise as one united in our similar differences. Where ever you are on your journey open a dialogue with yourself first be honest with that reflection in the mirror, get uncomfortably comfortable to let NORMALCY never be a state of being. Allow the footprints that were laid here in this city continue to direct us on a path of continuous growth and allow the names etched on this statue be a reminder of the African proverb, “When spider webs unite they can tie up a lion.”

In the words of MLK,

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Continued blessing and peace.

Thank you

Dr. Ingram