Black Awareness Association hopes for more attendees by hosting virtual MLK Day service
- Jasz Garrett
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
‘We are so grateful for how he came and just literally revolutionized this world.’
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
"Honoring Martin Luther King's Dream" will be held virtually from 1 to 2 p.m. on Monday by Juneau's Black Awareness Association in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Sherry Patterson, president of BAA, said the decision to hold the event online for the first time this year was made due to Juneau residents still recovering from the winter storms.
"For the past two years, it's been the weather, also," she said. "In past years, we've had anywhere from two to 300 people show up, and in the past two years, very little attendance because of the weather. It just actually poured down snow like crazy. We thought instead of going through that again we'll just do it virtual and I think we made the right decision."
She said registration is required in advance at www.baajuneau.org, and by entering an email address a reminder will be sent ahead of the event.
Patterson said the scheduled poets, musicians and dancers will submit clips beforehand, which BAA is compiling for Monday's service. Performers are local and from Anchorage. A historical presentation will also be given.
"It's just going to be a tribute to Dr. King and his contributions and his legacy, his life, all that he dreamed of and believed in and saw and went for and eventually died because of what he believed and what he was reaching for," she said. "The prize he was reaching for was vast, and he paid a price with his life, and we are so grateful for how he came and just literally revolutionized this world."
The event on Monday is free to attend. Patterson said the virtual event is formatted the same as BAA's annual in-person MLK Day service, except there was no "bandwidth" to host a food drive this year. People will still be able to donate to the organization's Black Excellence Scholarship for high school and college students, and BAA's Culture Rich Conversations radio show on KTOO.
Juneau's BAA is 32 years old and was formed in 1994 by Black residents serving in the military, Patterson said.
"They just needed a sense of belonging and representation in our community. And so they got together, and they formed the Black Awareness Association way back then, and we've been in existence ever since," she said. "Sometimes along the way, we've limped along and other times we've thrived, but we're here, and we intend to stay here. We're vital to this community, and we must be a part of it, and that's why we continue to do what we do."
The Black Excellence Scholarship started shortly after the association formed, with an average of one to two students being awarded each year. The amount of the scholarships varies year to year, dependent on donations.
"It's very important. They're our kids, and they need to know that they are well supported and that we care and we want them to go higher in their education," Patterson said. "If they have a desire to go higher in their education, we're here for them, and we do what we can to support them."
Patterson said Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Rep. Andi Story and Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson, president of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, are scheduled to speak, and more speakers "are in the works." Speakers are chosen based on who the BAA believes has "a healthy respect for Dr. King and is not afraid to share their thoughts where he's concerned." Dr. Alonzo B. Patterson, the former pastor and visionary of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, is also scheduled to speak from Anchorage.
"We are always excited to bring this to our community. We love our community," Sherry Patterson said. "We want to educate our community and we're here. We want to be supportive of our community, and please feel free to click and join us on Monday."
If someone wants to become more involved with Juneau's BAA, they can email juneaubaa@gmail.com or visit the website.
Alaska attorneys are also set to provide free legal help on the holiday, according to the Alaska Beacon.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
