Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. At Annual Library Breakfast

SOUTHAMPTON NY — It was a day of celebration, song and remembrance Monday as a crowd turned out at Rogers Memorial for the 18th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King breakfast.

The event has become a community tradition that nourishes not only with delicious fare but with spiritual reflection and enlightenment.

This year's keynote speaker, professor James "Dr. Love Banks," college coordinator of multicultural affairs and consultant to the Center for Social Justice for Human Understanding at Suffolk County Community College, gave a heartfelt speech about Dr. King's legacy.

"His vocal and behavioral practices continue to reverberate across the decades," he said. "In his speech, 'I have a dream,' Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of judging people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. That's an admirable concept to internalize."

Today, Banks said, there are many in "SIN," or "stuck in negative." Using another acronym, he said, "HOPE," or "healing our past experiences" is critical.

Speaking of his own life, Banks reflected on being a little boy in his mother's lap on a bench at the park, after they were thrown out of their house by an angry father, a father who was unable to make enough to sustain his family. "Reasons passed down for generations before him; they call it 'post-traumatic slave syndrome,'" he said.

His mother, however, shared with him "foot-of-the-bed conversations that resembled some of the incantations espoused by Martin Luther King. They were non-violent and were the impetus for which I have adopted my purpose. I often say that my purpose is to be positive, peaceful, productive and loving. I may not be here when its happens, but the road to social justice will surely bear my footprint."

Banks said he had a heart transplant years ago; he was told he died 13 times during his surgery. While he did not see the proverbial white light, he said, his mother used to whisper in his year: "Son, you are my firstborn; you are the light of my life. You are outstanding and I want you to use up all your skills.”

Banks said today, he uses those skills to advocate for social justice in a world where injustice exists in the criminal justice system, where racism and environmental racism are rampant, where the battle rages in "healthcare against wealth-care" and where issues such as a lack of affordable housing, educational disparities and exploitation of the poor remain.

"We're in a race against racism," he said. "And we have not crossed that finish line yet."

That's why, Banks said, he is involved a moderator with "United We Laugh," a comedy show and community discussion that seeks to eradicate discrimination through humor and dialogue.

Banks, who used to coach the poetry team, said a young high school poet once said, "Social justice, for African Americans and Latino Americans, means when you peer through the cell bars, that's who you will find there. Just us."

Banks discussed a criminal justice system that does not give the accused fair trials. "-isms are divisive," he said. "It's not your fault if your ancestors did something to African Americans, Native Americans or indigenous people. But if you ignore discrimination today, that is your fault. It's time for us to step up and not ignore things such as discrimination. We are all our brother's keeper. . . I'm asking you to be an ally and stand up whenever injustice rears its ugly head."

Looking back, Banks remembered being 8 years old, holes in his pants, and being told by the mother of the little girl he liked that she wasn't allowed to hang out with him. "She told her, 'I don’t want you hanging out with any of those Banks boys. 'Cause they are never going to be anything. They’re going to always be standing here on the corner and they are never going to do anything with themselves. . . And I still hold that message in my heart. It was a motivator. It didn’t beat me down. It made me say, 'Nobody’s ever going to say things like that about me again.'"

In the days after, Banks became a musician, won amateur night at the Apollo six times in a row, went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and has now dedicated his life to education.

"We must find a way to accept difference and to celebrate diversity," he said. "Value everyone. There is a justice higher than that of man. And I will be judged by that higher power. I am reminded when the great creator said, 'Let there be light,' that is evidence that darkness was there, also. There’s evidence that voices from the past are muffled when the footprint of racism and the stranglehold of discrimination rests on the necks of people who are different."

He added: "To my brothers and sisters in the room, African Americans, Native Americans, people of color, we have been bred to be led. No more. The time has come for us to be counted as equal. . .We’re all part of this one song. And the one song is called 'universe' and the word 'universe' means ' one song — uni-verse, and we’re all part of it. For all of you who are fairer skinned than I am, treat us as an equals, because we are all the same color inside. Just as my mom whispered in my ear, that I am the light, so are you the light. It’s time for you to go and illuminate this world. You can be the light to illuminate this world."

The event featured music by "Bonnie and Friends," led by Bonnie Cannon, former Southampton Village Trustee and executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center

Director of Adult Programming Penny Wright, whose department organizes the yearly event, thanked the library's board of trustees for "holding on to the vision that was original vision of Trustee William Murphy. He thought this would be a good way to commemorate the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and suggested this event all those years ago."

Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren reminded that Martin Luther King Day first came into observance on January 20, 1986; 2020 marks the 34th anniversary.

"Martin Luther King held no office, no ranking as an elected official but simply through his voice, his oratory skills and his vision and dreams for our country, he became just as important as leaders during that time — John F. Kennedy Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson, who became his partners and who he inspired to do the work that they did. He led a movement that continues to grow today," he said.

There is work still to be done, Warren said, to address homelessness and to help those "not born on third base and not given any God-given opportunities, like many of us in Southampton — who deserve an equal playing field and every chance to succeed in this world." Diversity in all facets of government, he added, must be encouraged.

Also in attendance at the event were Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming and Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni.

Library Director Liz Burns said about 100 had turned out for the event. "If each of us leaves here today and emulates the words and work of Dr. King in even on or two our interactions, perhaps we can help spread his message of equality, acceptance, and love — and be an agent of change that I think we agree is still needed today," she said. "I'd say 100 of us is a pretty darned good start."