Color Guard/ Martin Luther King Assembly

Hello future readers,

Guess what? I was chosen to be in the Color Guard for our special Martin Luther King assembly! Not only that, I get to lead the Color Guard! Outta site! This is the first year that 4th graders have ever gotten to even do the Color Guard, so this is a really big deal! When Miss LaSalle told me on Monday morning, I was so excited, I couldn't stand it! And this was for our special assembly honoring Martin Luther King, so it was doubly important. I hope people still remember Martin Luther King in the future. He was a very great man. He wanted all races to be equal. My mom told me that it wasn't even 10 years ago that black people had to sit in the back of the bus, and had to go to separate schools, and couldn't even drink out of the same water fountains as white people! All because of the color of our skin! Even though it isn't that bad anymore, people of all races are still fighting for equal rights. This is especially important to me and my mom, because I'm half white and half black. My dad was white, and my mom is black. I'm glad they didn't have the silly idea that blacks and whites shouldn't be together, or I wouldn't even have been born! Anyway, my mom was very proud of me and was coming to the assembly. Far out!

On Wednesday morning, the auditorium was full of kids and some of the parents. Our weekly Color Guard has 4 kids in it. This week it was 2 from Miss LaSalle's class, (me and Jason) and 2 kids from Mrs. Johnson's class (Robyn and Stephanie). We were standing off stage, waiting to start the assembly. After Mrs. Johnson  had told everyone to calm down. and gave the announcements, I said in a big, loud voice "Color Guard forward!" Mrs. Taylor played our music on the piano, and we marched onto the stage.

Then I said, "Color Guard turn!" And we turned to face the audience and I stepped forward.

 Forget the butterflies, I had bats flying around in my stomach. But I swallowed hard and said "Springfield Sparrows, please rise." Everyone in the auditorium stood up. I said "Springfield Sparrows, please place your right hand on your hearts and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance."

After we said the pledge, I said, "Springfield Sparrows, please join us in singing "America The Beautiful".  After we sang I said, "Springfield Sparrows, please be seated. Color Guard turn! Color Guard forward and salute our country's colors." Each of us took a turn saluting the flag and walked off the stage as Mrs. Taylor played our music.

I did it! I was so proud of myself, because I spoke in a loud voice and didn't mess up any of the words! We went back to sit with our classes. Then Mrs. Johnson announced that Sabrina Thomas from Mrs. Dawson's 5th grade class would sing the black national anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing".

We all clapped like crazy for Sabrina. She can really sing! Then Mrs. Johnson announced that Miss LaSalle's class would do a presentation called "Because of Dr. King". Our class stood up and walked onto the stage.

We each took a turn saying something about what Martin Luther King has done to make all races equal. Here is what we said:

"Because of Dr. King, kids of all races can go to school together and be friends with one another."

"Because of Dr. King, any black family can go out to dinner and eat in the same restaurant as a white family.

"Because of Dr. King, black people can be doctors, lawyers, policemen, or whatever they want to be."

"Because of Dr. King, white people and black people can marry each other and have kids like me."

"Because of Dr. King, and a woman named Rosa Parks, black people no longer have to sit in the back of the bus, or ride in separate cars on trains."

"Because of Dr. King, white people and black people cat sit together in auditoriums like this one and watch performances together."

"Because of Dr. King, great black athletes can play in the NBA, the NFL and Major League Baseball along with great white athletes."

"Because of Dr. King, black people and white people can go to church and pray to God together."

Then Miss LaSalle asked everyone to hold hands and join us in singing "We Shall Overcome".

It was a super assembly! After it was over, my mom gave me a big hug and told me how proud she was of me. That really made me feel special. Next Monday, there's no school in honor of Martin Luther King's birthday. It's not a national holiday, but maybe someday it will be. I'm glad our town believes in making a holiday for such a great man, and my mom says other places in America do, too. Maybe in the future, you take a day off work or school to honor Dr. King. I hope so. And I also hope that in the future, no one has to fight for the right to be equal anymore. I hope all of you live in peace like Martin Luther King wanted.

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend
Julie Newman