Voices celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

By Mary Louise Speer | Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The voices of the Westbrook Singers gospel ensemble, Augustana Choir and Community Gospel Chorus resonated with shouts of glory Saturday night during Augustana College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

“While it’s cold outside, it’s going to get warm in here tonight,” Berlinda Tyler-Jamison, the master of ceremonies, promised.

The evening event brought the community together and reaffirmed the values that shaped King’s life. Young

performers from the Progressive Youth Dancers of Progressive Baptist Church, Davenport and Praise Dancers of Second Baptist Church, Rock Island and teenage readers all played a part in making the evening special, she said.

“We are doing praise dance because we like to dance for God. We’re here for Martin Luther King Day because he had a dream and he let black people and white people get together,” Alonna Cooke, 8, of the Progressive Praise Dancers, said. “Before people didn’t like each other. They were separate, but now they’re friends and appreciate each other.”

The Rev. Michael Schaab of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island shared words from the “I Have a Dream” speech uttered by King on Aug. 28, 1963 at the Lincoln

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Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Lauren Loftin, president of Rock Island County NAACP; Gerald Jones, executive director of the Martin Luther King Community Center in Rock Island; and Cathy Bolkcom, co-founder of Progressive Action for the Common Good, shared their concerns about issues facing many in 2008, including school closings in Rock Island.

For the Westbrook Singers, the event marked the 25th anniversary of an event incepted by Charles Westbrook, the oldest of the 11 siblings. There are five living generations of the family from their father, the Rev. Charles Westbrook, 90, and their mother Barbara Westbrook, 82, on down to great great grandchild Lailah Westbrook, 4 months.

“Twenty-five years ago in 1983 my brother, Charles, came up with the idea that we should celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday,” singer Gary Westbrook said. “That first year it was exciting and it was new and the building (Centennial Hall) was packed, standing room only.”

The family was responsible for everything from the legwork, public relations and performing during the beginning years. Saturday night they gladly concentrated on the performance including music that highlighted the history of black people in America.

“It’s a medley of songs and it takes a progression from the old negro spirituals that they sang in slave times and it climaxes with the tribute to Dr. King,” singer Delores Westbrook-Tingle said.

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