On Jan. 14, 2006, two days before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 77th birthday, a woman shielding her face with a black and white scarf stood alone on Main Street in downtown High Point, N.C. Berline Exum was the woman behind the scarf. She said that she arrived to watch a parade celebrating Dr. King and to personally remember his message. Mrs. Exum, a resident of High Point and mother of a daughter attending High Point University, watched as the crowd packed up their belongings and left. “I was there,” she said, referring to the days of government-sanctioned segregation. “We’ve come along way, but there is still much to do.”

Exum admitted that she was discouraged by the turnout of the parade and that she felt more people should have ventured to the downtown setting despite the windy conditions. “It’s cold, but still,” Exum continued, “We have a responsibility.”

“Thanks to Dr. King, we fought for , but we have to exercise them,” said Exum. “We need to get out and take part. When the door is open for you, why would you just peek in?”

Two days later on Dr. King’s birthday, Jan. 16, the Greensboro Children’s Museum hosted a performance by Carma Lee Gallo of Carma’s Creations to introduce children to Dr. King and the basic principles that he taught, such as fairness, equality and treating others as one would want to be treated.

To demonstrate these values, Gallo incorporated different puppets representing the various animals of the jungle in her show, A Friend Indeed. “The goal is to share his traits on a level that children can integrate into their daily lives,” said Gallo.

Deja Adams, a first-grade student at Jefferson Elementary, was one of the children who attended Gallo’s performance. Adams learned about Dr. King at school and from her mother, Guilford College student Jessica Adams. Young Adams stated that, “Dr. King was colorblind; he just saw people.”

Planning is already underway for more informative presentations and exhibits in the future for occasions such as Black History Month. “We will continue increasing our education programs,” said Susan Matz, museum Development Director.

Some still feel that Dr. King’s message has lost its spirit. Oliver Williams, a local patron of the Coin Laundry on Freeman Mill Road, believed that Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated the truths of everyone both socially and economically. “In economic issues we’ve lost sight.”

Williams continued: “There is so much oppression economically. Everything has turned into soup kitchens. How can you express social ideas to other countries if ours are still messed up? Once there was slavery and now there is outsourcing. Outsourcing is modern day slavery.”

In downtown Greensboro at Howard’s Barber Shop, regular customer Connie Short felt that future generations should listen to the older ones. “I lived back then and it was hard. Young kids these days mess around with violence and drugs. It’s a shame, we’ve made progress but we can do no more.”

With his growing concern for the up-and-coming generation, Short was very thankful to Dr. King. “Like the lord, he gave his life for us.