Historical Dopeness :: MLK Memorial Celebration

Tens of thousands of people gathered together in Washington, D.C. Sunday, for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. The event was set to take place back in August, but due to harsh weather conditions (like Hurricane Irene) it was impossible so it was postponed indefinitely.

Fast forward to Sunday and the dedication attracted several notable names, like gospel artists Mary Mary, Aretha Franklin ,  Sheryl Crow, Ledisi, Stevie Wonder, Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church where King once served as co-pastor, his daughter Rev. Bernice King, vice president Biden, and the President of the United States, Barack Obama and his family.

Obama stood below the 30-foot sculpture of King called the “Stone of Hope” saying:

“In this place, he will stand for all time, among monuments to those who fathered this nation and those who defended it; a black preacher with no official rank or title somehow gave voice to our deepest dreams and our most lasting ideals.”

The ceremony was held during regular Sunday worship hours and featured performances from choirs across the country. There was a duet with Ledisi and Stevie Wonder; Sheryl Crowe, and Aretha Franklin sang one of King’s favorite hymns “Precious Lord;” and Christine King Farris, King’s 84-year-old sister, was also at the event said,

“I stand before you today as a person who knew Martin Luther King Jr. longer than anyone now alive. He was my little brother and I watched him grow and develop into a man who was destined for a special kind of greatness…..Let this wonderful day mark another step toward the fulfillment of the dream.”

Peep the pics and video.