Hundreds filled the seats of Constitution Hall on Friday night—a place that decades ago would not seat African Americans—to honor the monumental life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. presented a theatrical production reflecting on the life of the fallen civil rights leader. The production, "A Monumental Life," featured The Dream Choir, the Ensemble, the Morehouse College Glee Club and several actors, actresses and celebrities such as Cassi Davis, Terrance Howard, Jasmine Guy, Omari Hardwick, Lalah Hathaway, Roland Martin and several others.
The play featured the "Early Ebenezer- Atlanta, Georgia," "The Morehouse Years," "Montgomery Bus Boycott," "Letters from a Birmingham Jail," "I Have a Dream" "The Final Years" and "Coretta Reflects," all of which were important stages of King's life.
The tragedy of Emmett Till's death, the Greensboro Four, the four little girls who died in a Birmingham church bombing and Bloody Sunday in 1965 were also showcased during the presentation.
Trevor Jamal Thomas, a senior biology major who served as a talent escort at the event, described it as a momentous occasion.
"It steps out from normal boundaries in a sense that through this entire week, we have been highlighting his civil rights movements but have also been looking for justice in other areas that Dr. King touched that historically have not been ventured," he said. "We are very optimistic that there is a statue that is able to stand and weather this storm, it shows the perseverance of Dr. King."
But for the people who walked side by side with King, the evening brought back memories.
Ambassador Andrew Young, one of King's allies and a civil rights leader and ambassador to the United Nations said, "I didn't want to come to this event, because I'm still very much aware that we got tear gassed off of the mall in 1968 because we were trying to get America to deal with poverty—and America still hasn't dealt with poverty. I don't feel good putting on a tux and tails and coming out like a high roller, when all of my people are poor and getting poorer."
Congressman John Lewis looked up at the monument on his fourth visit and could do nothing but cry tears of joy.
"The dream is not yet realized, we still have so far to go," Lewis said. "There are still too many Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos that are still left out and left behind. Dr. King would say…‘We cannot be satisfied. Be a peacemaker. All of our people have a place at the table of brotherhood.'"
The mood was consistent throughout the night. Several members of the crowd stood to their feet after a gospel melody by Lashun Pace, and looked in deep reflection at the personal videos from King's life.
The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. honored King throughout the night by wearing a white tie and tail, as King wore in Oslo, Norway when he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
"A Monumental Life" also previewed the BET documentary "Alpha Man: MLK Brotherhood," a piece on Dr. King's life as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and the film "Red Tails" about the Tuskegee Airmen.
Although plans to dedicate the memorial Sunday—48 years after his "I Have A Dream Speech"—have been postponed the people still celebrated and found light in a minor setback.
"The hurricane is just a bump in the road," said civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. "When we put this together we completed a task. We can handle a little ole' hurricane. We handled a tornado—the black experience in civil rights was just that. So we can battle a hurricane. It may postpone the official dedication, only for it to be sweeter when the day does come."
King was often called "A King Amongst Presidents," a title with which most at the event would likely agree.
"Its appropriate for Martin to be on the mall," Lowery said. "He re-shaped the country. It was a beautiful journey towards decency and justice."
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