Unity march in uptown Charlotte honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Hundreds took over Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte Sunday to participate in the Atrium Health Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday March.
The MLK Day parade has been a Charlotte tradition for decades. Each year, crowds line the route to watch dozens of community and Greek organizations, marching bands, floats and dance performers honor King’s life and work.
This year, the event’s planning committee wanted to “expand its reach and participation” with a unity march.
On Sunday, dozens more could walk alongside the marchers and performers they’d usually cheer on in years past. The march started at Montford Point Street and ended at the statue of King in Marshall Park with the annual wreath-laying memorial.
“This feels more impactful,” Verdetta Turner, a teacher at Hidden Valley Elementary School, said. “It’s not just the bells and whistles. It has more meaning.”
Turner was one of dozens representing Zeta Phi Beta, a historically Black sorority, in Sunday’s unity march.
“All of us are from different chapters, so it’s nice to bring everybody together to celebrate what MLK did for us,” said Kayla Clark, a member of the sorority at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte.
‘A powerful statement’
For many, Sunday’s march was more than just a day of celebration — it was to remember the legacy of a man who changed history.
“It’s extremely important that we continue the legacy and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Charlotte resident Taura Glaze said. “He marched for us, and we’re able to do what he wasn’t able to do, so why not be here with each other?”
As part of the march, Glaze, along with her friend Maya Siggers, represented Clark Atlanta University, a historically Black university in Atlanta, where King was born.
Siggers said she’s participated in several marches, especially in her hometown of Memphis, Tenn., where King was assassinated. And she believes they’re one of the most powerful ways to carry on his legacy.
“We’re reliving the movement that he was so passionate about,” she said.
‘An observance of changemakers’
Sunday’s march also was an opportunity to share King’s legacy with those who are still learning about it.
“We want our students to ultimately be change agents,” said Malcolm Brooks, principal of KIPP Change Academy in Charlotte. “Being able to be a part of an observance of changemakers, such as Dr. King, it means everything.”
Brooks marched alongside dozens of his students at the K-5 school. He said Sunday’s march was a perfect example of what King fought for.
“Dr. King was 39 when he died,” Brooks said. “It’s never too early to be advocates for ourselves. We want our students to believe in something beyond themselves. And that’s what he stood for.”
The city is hosting several opportunities to learn about and honor King’s legacy throughout the weekend. On Monday, the Harvey B. Gantt Center and YMCA of Greater Charlotte are holding MLK Day-themed events to honor the late civil rights icon.
Several Charlotte organizations are also accepting volunteers for events on MLK Day, which is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service.
This story was originally published January 15, 2023 at 5:28 PM.
