The NAACP Youth Council MLK Celebration will celebrate the life of King, who is pictured here with his wife and three of their four children.
"Our focus is on having the youth orchestrate the event, and be in charge of it," said Rena McNeil, the chairperson of the NAACP's youth committee and Youth Council advisor.
The event is being held on Thursday because Jan. 15 is the actual birth date of King, rather than Monday, which is the holiday set aside in remembrance of the slain civil rights leader.
"The youth council, every year, acknowledges his actual birthday in order to remember and spotlight his life," McNeil said.
Ms. Kuumba, Antonique Penny, will be the celebration's guest speaker. Penny is a senior at Scotland High School.
Also featured during the event, which is in it's 13th year, will be Ms. Society Hill, Halie Larkins, who will serve as guest soloist.
"The theme this year is 'Remembering a true King, and keeping the dream alive'," McNeil said. For her, the purpose of the event is to "help young people understand better the sacrifices that were made, so that they can carry on fulfilling" their duties as citizens. "We're also trying to make sure that the King holiday is not a day they take lightly."
On the schedule are also performances from several guest choirs, and speeches, both original and those delivered first by King, to be delivered by Youth Council members. The "Spirited Messengers" miming team from Franklin Chapel Missionary Baptist Church will also perform.
According to McNeil, a talent scout from Raleigh will also be in attendance and taking auditions after the program from anyone interested.
The youth council is comprised of approximately 50 young people, with about 30 active members, McNeil said.
The celebration is open to the public and entry is free. It will be held on the campus of St. Andrews Presbyterian College at the Avinger Auditorium beginning at 6 p.m.
King was born in 1929 and assassinated in 1968.
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