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King's message? Loving each other
Reginald Halsey Jr. explained Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech to McCook kindergartners and first graders Monday. "Basically, it means loving each other, no matter what color they are on the outside," Halsey said. "What counts is on the inside."
Halsey and fellow members of his basketball team at McCook Community College described Martin Luther King Jr. and his work during a "cultures festival" at McCook Community College. The cultural exchange events was hosted by Nelson Fellows of McCook and AmeriCorps members from the Omaha-based program SUN (Strengthening Urban Neighborhoods).
Halsey, Justin McAfee, Michael White and DeRoyce Loyd told students about King's fight for equality and his unwavering belief in desegregation and non-violence.
"Martin Luther King wanted everyone to be free and equal, and to love each other," Halsey said. He encouraged the kids, "Before Martin Luther King Day is over, make sure you tell someone you love them."
When Latoya Freeman of Omaha asked if the students understood Martin Luther King Day, one little boy offered, "Some people were treated bad, 'cause they were black."
Latoya shared her grandfather's stories about growing up a black child in Mississippi. "He strapped a cotton bag on his back when he was six years old," she said, "and picked cotton in the field all day ... from sunup to sundown."
Latoya continued, "He walked two miles to school because there were no busses for black children." She chuckled, "With your little legs, that would take about an hour and a half to get to school."
Latoya told the students, "Martin Luther King wanted equal opportunities for everyone."
To help the kindergartners understand cultural differences -- and similarities -- Alissa Burmeister of Omaha shared a mango, a fruit as popular in Brazil as the peach is in America. Her spicy rice tasted like a spicy America pizza. "We eat bread," Alissa said. "They eat rice."
Theresa Lehn of Omaha told students about her friend, Josefina, a native of Mexico who now lives in Omaha and translates for students in the Omaha school system. "Different languages can be very confusing," she told the kindergartners. "Josefina's job as a translator is very important."
Theresa said Josefina's hopes and dreams for herself, her husband and their four daughters, "are the same as my Mom and Dad have for me." A good education ... a job to work hard ... opportunities to see family and friends.
Plamen Kovachev, "Paul," a native of Bulgaria, showed the students the differences between their alphabet and his, a mixture of Greek and Latin letters.
Paul wrote on the chalkboard, "Az te obicham." In English, "I love you."
Nelson Fellows participating were Misty Ecker, Christine Miller, Josh Bodeman, Derek Clay, Spencer Ruble and Cari Mashek.
SUN members were Chris Cady, Lehn, Freeman and Burmeister. MCC students participating were Craig Wamsley, Jack Lutzier, White, Kovachev, Halsey, Loyd and McAfee.
Nelson Fellows program director Vicky Leibbrandt said the Fellows hope to make the cultural exchange an annual event. "We enjoyed the reactions of the kids to the different foods, and the stories and experiences the students shared." Leibbrandt said it was also great to see AmeriCorps members from Omaha come to help, and to have students and basketball players from the college get involved.