If Dr. King Visited Whitesboro Community Center

Imagine the conversations that might take place if the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. paid a surprise visit to his namesake community center on West Main Street in Whitesboro to mark his 83rd birthday Jan. 15. Wouldn’t that be an interesting place to be when the man, instrumental in the civil rights movement, got to talk to some locals about life in Cape May County 44 years after his demise?
I can see center Director Robert Matthews’ face break out in a broad smile in disbelief when Dr. King would press open the doors. With that face, immortalized around the globe as he addressed multitudes from the Lincoln Memorial steps that famous day, Aug. 28, 1963, he would see Matthews, who daily sees many African-American children pass through the portals of the center.
“Brother Matthews, I’m Dr. King,” he might say as an unnecessary formality of self-introduction.
Matthews, no doubt speechless, would likely extend his hand and embrace King.
“I understand you do many things with the children of this community,” King might say. “I hear you and community members have a Homework Club. Is that right? The club is open to boys and girls who can come here after school, and get help with their schoolwork. Is that right?”
“Yes,” Matthews would reply, “We know there is a need, and the people here wanted to help answer that need.”
“Good, good. Praise the Lord you’re doing a fine work here,” King would reply.
“Let me ask you about those older youngsters. Do they value education? You know, for so long down home, we went to segregated schools, and couldn’t go where the white children went to school,” King might say.
“Sir, I’m told that the Whitesboro Elementary School, it’s just east of here across Route 9 was the community school, but then all the youngsters were sent to Court House,” Matthews might respond.
“What’s the voting record in this community and county? Does the African American community have a strong voice at the ballot box here?” King would likely ask. “You know the marches we went on, the jail time I did, the harassment my family and I went through all part of forcing the issue to give our people the right to vote. I hope they are using that right at every election. Are they?” King would certainly ask.
“Tell me, brother, how many of our brothers and sisters are involved in their local governments and boards?” King would ask.
“And, I would not let this little visit pass without asking, are our high school students going on to college? Are they planning to make good futures and to come back here to help your community become a better place? You know we held education in such a high regard, and the terrible things that happened to some young folks who wanted to attend colleges they could not because of their skin color,” he would add.
“As a preacher, I wonder how the churches here in Whitesboro and around Cape May County are doing at helping our mothers and fathers raise their children. You know, we can’t expect the government to do what we ought to be doing at home for ourselves and in our churches,” he would say. “Are the pews filled every Sunday, and do our young people attend, sing in the choirs and help teach their younger siblings?
That’s such an important thing as we go out into the world,” King might ask.
“My brother, you have a good center going here. I’m proud to have my name attached to it. Would you please tell every boy and girl, every teenager who comes here to spend time, and every mother and father they are so important, each and every one of them. It’s sad if they cannot find meaningful employment, but tell them not to be discouraged. The work that each of them does, regardless of how menial it might seem to them, is so important to the community as a whole,” King would chide.
“And please, brother, do everything in your earthly power to help young people stay away from illegal drugs. I’ve seen so many of our good and promising sons and daughters fall into the devil’s hands using those drugs. You know, we are in danger of losing a generation to those drugs, and then where will be our future?” he might ask.
“I must be going now, Brother Matthews. The work I did, that’s for you and your co-workers to carry on. You’re working with children, they will be our heritage, and so we must raise them properly. I can’t be here in person to help each of you help them, but I’m here in spirit every day and night. When you open up this building and when you close it down for the night, I’m with you.
“On my birthday, look at my name on this building. Think of what I did when I was alive. Be thankful to have such a facility as this is in which to help our brothers and sisters,” King might say as he walks out the door. “Young man, there’s work to be done. I’ll be thinking of you all. Good bye!”
King’s birthday is Jan. 15. The federal holiday will be marked Jan. 16. There is much of his work left to do and never enough hands to get it done. His dream remains unfulfilled.