He wasn’t allowed to vote for President in 1944. This Tuesday, one day after J.C. Watkins leads the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade through Rockingham, a man who is black, like him, will become President.

The MLK Celebration Foundation has organized a long weekend of festivities under the theme “His Dream...Our Reality,” which will culminate in Monday’s commemorative march to the courthouse. Watkins will serve as the Grand Marshall.

“We adopted that theme back in September, and we didn’t know whether or not Obama would win the election,” said Watkins. “I wanted to see it happen, but I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.

“Our minds are broadening to accept what God tried to teach us in the Scripture,” said Rev. Jettie Vann Floyd of East Rockingham United Methodist Church, who will give the MLK Celebration ecumenical service at First Baptist Church on Hamlet Avenue on Sunday at 7 p.m.

“This year’s celebration reflects where our nation has come from and where it’s going.”

According to Watkins, the annual ecumenical service embodies Dr. King’s dream by inviting a black minister to preach at a predominantly white church one year, and vice versa the next year. Rev. Floyd, whose home congregation is mostly white, said the service always draws a big crowd.

MLK Parade Chairman Bryan David said this year’s parade is historic for many reasons. “Obama was elected by many different kinds of people.

“It was Dr. King’s dream for all people to have the opportunity to succeed, and we must continue working to give all American people that chance, no matter what race or ethnicity they are. This is about coming together to live in harmony.”

“This holiday is especially important because even though the laws have changed, prejudice still exists. You can’t legislate that,” said Watkins.

“The dream is not fully accomplished yet.”

The MLK weekend festivities kick off with a Martin Luther King Jr. Gala on Friday, Jan. 16, at 9 p.m. at the East Hamlet Community Center. Doors open at 8 p.m. This event is being dubbed a pre-inauguration ball to also celebrate the accomplishment of President-elect Barack Obama. Attire is semi-formal.

Other scheduled MLK Celebration Foundation events include the following:

Prayer breakfast: 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.

Ecumenical service: 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, First Baptist Church, West Hamlet Avenue. The speaker will be the Rev. J. Vann Floyd, pastor of East Rockingham United Methodist Church. Music will be provided by the Martin Luther King Jr./J.C. Watkins Musical Ensemble.

Commemorative Parade: 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will begin on Washington Street and commence through downtown Rockingham, ending at the Richmond County Courthouse for a brief program. If any church, civic or community group would like to participate in the parade, call Brian David at 417-8645.

Luncheon: Begins at noon Monday, Jan. 19 at Waymon Chapel Faith Center, Osborne Road in Hamlet. The speaker will be Superior Court Judge Kevin Bridges. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the Leak Street Educational and Cultural Center or by any MLK Celebration Foundation member.

Evening Extravaganza: 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, Leak Street Educational and Cultural Center. Talent will be provided by local youth.

Poster Contest: Entries from the MLK poster contest will be on exhibit at the Leath Memorial Library through Jan. 21 and on Martin Luther King Day from 9-10 a.m.