DR. KING’S LEGACY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE – Rev. Dr. Bobby Cruse (center) spoke at a community-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration on Monday at the Mayme Canada Brown Community Center at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Woodville. Dr. Cruse spoke about the future, but also drew from history and the struggles Black Americans faced under a variety of hardships, such as Jim Crow laws and segregation. Karsyn Hadnot (left) and Carter Settler, pictured onstage with Cruse, each wrote and recited insightful essays representing the past and the present, respectively. Hadnot wrote about many of the challenges faced by Dr. King during his lifetime and Settler wrote about current issues facing many Black Americans. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB
Pictured, left-to-right: Rev. Dr. Bobby Cruse; Ganetta Christian; Rev. Michael Hadnot and Jerome Johns are the governing board behind the MLK Day celebration in Woodville. The group presented a special commendation at Monday’s event to recognize the Woodville Eagles football team, who were runners-up in the UIL State Class 3A finals last December. Rev. Hadnot said it was an honor to recognize the young talent coming up in Woodville. Christian wanted to add that if anyone wishes to contribute to keeping the MLK celebration going, or wishes to participate, they can call her at 409-429-4351 or Brenda Maloy at 409-429-6037. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB