The youngest generation of the King family hosted an inspiring group of children who called on their peers Saturday to engage in community outreach.
Three days after the 50th anniversary of King's assassination, about 200 people attended the event in Atlanta hosted by Yolanda Renee King, 9-year-old granddaughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and 7-year-old Maryn Rippy, the great-granddaughter of King's brother, A.D. King.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Child actors Hudson D. Yang from ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat" and Storm Reid from the film "A Wrinkle in Time" interviewed about a dozen featured guests, including Amariyanna Copeny, a 10-year-old girl who has brought attention to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan; and McKenzie Walker, a 14-year-old singer who used the proceeds from her CD to help orphans.
Two of the civil rights icon's children, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, also were in attendance.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The event also served to mark the 50th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta.
The day also included food, fun and entertainment by the Atlanta Drum Academy and musical artists Jahi Winston and D.J. Willy Wow, in addition to Walker’s performance.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
MLK’s granddaughter was in the spotlight last month when she took to the stage at the March for Our Lives in Washington for a memorable speech.
“My grandfather had a dream that his four children wouldn’t be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” the 9-year-old King said. “So it’s our job to spread the word, all across the nation, that we’re going to be a great generation.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this AP report.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
