Thursday, October 1, 2026
Teachers, students and parents crowded into the Charles McIlwain Gymnatorium at Centennial Avenue Elementary School, in Roosevelt, on Jan. 23 for the school’s annual tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Select students from first to sixth grade took part.
The program began with Interim Principal Edy Davenport leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence and the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” commonly known as the Black national anthem. Then five third- and fourth-grade students gave the formal introduction, reciting lines that defined King’s legacy and leadership and the significance of the holiday.
First-graders Melanie Cruz, Gabriella Elise, K’Hari Harrison, Italia McKenzie, Chase Noailles and Dylan Quintanilla quoted King’s six principles of non-violence, marching on and off stage with picket signs, reminiscent of a civil rights protest.
The six principles are: 1) Non-violence is a way of life for courageous people; 2) Non-violence seeks to win friendship and understanding; 3) Non-violence seeks to defeat injustice, not people; 4) Non-violence holds that suffering can educate and transform; 5) Non-violence chooses love instead of hate; and 6) Non-violence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
Next, dancers Amira Butler, Bella Davis, Phelani Johnson, Eliza Lopez and Eliana Reddick performed, accompanied by drummers Sanaj Hammett, Sofia Interiano, Isaac Lincifort, Tevin Lindo, Melissa Lopez, Kevin Manuel, Carter Russell and their coach, Al Henry.
Second-graders Tymere Coggins, Jean Carlos Estevez, Jarrell Green, Ariana Hernandez and Marcel Wagner spoke about the “Beloved Community,” as defined by King — a vision that focuses on equal treatment and respect for all, where care for one another is a priority.
The program’s finale began with a recitation of Eve Merriam’s poem “I am a Man,” by fifth-graders Temitope Awala, Jaami’El Estriplet, Sanaj Hammett, Cam’Ron Harrison, Amber Martinez, Jonathan Mejia, Tahj October, Petri Perez Chicas, and Arabella Weir. After a final dance-and-drum performance, a chorus sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
The event closed with Shawn Wightman, superintendent of the Roosevelt school district, speaking about King and the Centennial Avenue community.
“Never forget the work that has been done before us — who Dr. King and all the civil rights activists had to give so that we have what we have here today,” Wightman said. “I’m very, very proud of not only Centennial Avenue Elementary School, I’m very proud of this district and all the things that we’ve done working together.”
Afterward, students offered their thoughts on King and the day’s performances. Sanaj Hammett, 12, who drummed and spoke, said that she particularly enjoyed practicing and working with other students to make the program a success.
“The community in general is so nice and kind,” Sanaj said. “This is like a moment for everybody to come together and spend time together as one community and a family.”
Amber Martinez, 9, mentioned that getting to celebrate King’s holiday and appreciating his activism and “how he didn’t give up” is particularly meaningful to her.
Davenport explained that civil rights are discussed throughout the learning experience at Centennial Avenue, and estimated that the school has created tributes and programs dedicated to King and other civil rights icons for nearly two decades.
“It’s just part of the culture of our school, in terms of our speaking and our arts and so forth,” Davenport said. “We’re like an unofficial school of the arts — we just love the singing, the dancing, the drama, giving students these opportunities in the arts.”
Davenport noted that the students had also performed at the Roosevelt Public Library on Jan. 17, and members of the audience were impressed. She also emphasized the importance of teaching young students about King and non-violent civil protests.
“They can understand that the peace and the justice that we have experienced today came because of activists like Dr. King, who fought for our rights, for their rights, for the rights of their grandparents,” Davenport said. “So it did not come without a struggle, without a fight. But why we really uplift Dr. King is because he did it non-violently. So, as we know, we still have issues in our society that need to be addressed. So we just empower our children as well, to be activists non-violently here in our community.”
