[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6743424,"mediaKeyId","2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65","parentId",2137314,"title","Keynote speaker urges Newton to \"resurrect\" Martin Luther King as a radical and confront whiteness","audioSeconds",1229,"startMs",5679000,"endMs",6908000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65&start=5679&end=6908","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65/thumbnail_5679000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6743424/Keynote-speaker-urges-Newton-to-resurrect-Martin-Luther-King-as-a-radical-and-confront-whiteness","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743424-456d37b7c7238f449c8f909f71271ce0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174858&Signature=X1WzQMRmPefQ~2x08eiiQWd0cENY1Rq1zYsH0N8d5iEvopF39SokvWETT9rbtqduvnTzB5z5tkQjBQCLSq9pi7ZwTQ88QkarMWYP9NIljtkRcVW1TnBKWDbrsx2B0ebLzuEk0hdxDz031TMy-~LgG8YslVaCziyEPii2hP7kPTZuJmDtSvN6Jk2EeYLIey1YVx7XPnHMy5w6RpN4Xd7P-5CFtOil5WlZ90JXoh29mJZ80pFVwk4GnXPdbToiWufjVzem6rQ4DbrYOyJQ71nru27LJknOUzrl0yyZY0ePzpr5kyeDyB28~glVrJ-5tx9VXvhcQBvjUtoMm2yklRRc4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newton City, MA","date","2025-01-21T04:24:36Z","article","Reverend Dr. Brandon Thomas Crowley, senior pastor of Myrtle Baptist Church and a lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, urged attendees at Newton's 57th Martin Luther King Jr. celebration to reclaim the full, often-ignored scope of King's work.

Crowley framed his remarks as \"A Tale of 2 Kings,\" saying one public memory of King depicts a conciliatory dreamer while another remembers a radical organizer who demanded structural change. \"We cannot simply keep the dream alive. We must also keep the true king alive in all of his radical and transformative ways,\" Crowley said.

Why it matters: Crowley argued the sanitized image of King has been used to depoliticize his demands for jobs, reparations and systemic accountability. He quoted scholars who have argued that King has been \"reduced to a mere dreamer\" and said that historical revisionism \"seeks to depoliticize black leaders.\"

Details: Crowley pressed listeners to confront the construct he called \"whiteness,\" defining it as a system of privilege and social norms rather than merely a skin color. \"Whiteness is the great American sin,\" he said, adding that white allies must do more than attend events: they must \"die of your whiteness, to be born anew and afresh\" by taking sustained, often uncomfortable action. He said reparations and structural remedies were central to King's agenda, quoting King's own call to put \"your money where your mouth is\" as part of that work.

Crowley criticized what he called performative remembrance and urged practical commitments: organizing, advocating, police reform, and sustained allyship. He warned that the burden of carrying the work cannot be placed solely on Black people, saying, \"white people must do more than just keep the dream alive, because the dream was for us. The work is for you.\"

Context: Crowley's address followed student speeches and remarks from civic and faith leaders and served as the program's keynote. The event included musical performances by local choirs and youth ensembles and a fundraising ask for a Reverend Haywood scholarship fund.

Ending: Crowley closed with a call to action: \"Be king. Craft new world orders that echo the call of justice. Be king and resurrect him.\" He urged the audience to treat King's legacy as a blueprint for durable change rather than a ceremonial remembrance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","57th Annual City of Newton Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration - 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Reverend Dr. Brandon Thomas Crowley, senior pastor of Myrtle Baptist Church and a lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, urged attendees at Newton's 57th Martin Luther King Jr. celebration to reclaim the full, often-ignored scope of King's work.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6743421,"Newton students call for civil discourse, affinity spaces and action on colorism at MLK event",1091,2863000,3954000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65&start=2863&end=3954","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","/articles/6743421/Newton-students-call-for-civil-discourse-affinity-spaces-and-action-on-colorism-at-MLK-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743421-4a4bd0c3fd5e87cd49d8817cac9d7cf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174858&Signature=VyZg3lg-m2mGlDqsKRwf1bvvaQlxiLsiin4m~CXZh-vvfvdYKFAoVfXp9a7gjwuo1p-Pk20QWgcgtWi2BaYpFFc0-jJhyswwUNyhxIwQre1-oS1RLf18isH47avjf8TwzMTEl7W3tESapsihIfGKHHh1Fitm5BarG3To-1z2Wfx3qq7Kh45212biYpO2L8bzlHwVZ2R-qxC7mEQugs5cdtrkBQI9M8~o83PlJJAnRaYg~ClU0REJ7Tfyed8KL1PbbLT2gjCsyw-ddXXvH0jdNaa~-Zvrs3puVQMb56-dSIz92hN73ca8VB9FUVSPnNFA3~XXK9Yh7LM0YHiairdiIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Four Newton public school students addressed the city's MLK Day gathering with personal reflections that linked identity, mental health and civic engagement.

Ellis Brown, a junior at Newton South High School, argued that democracy depends on civil disagreement and direct engagement with opposing views. \"What dampens the flames is civil discourse. Replacing the yelling with listening,\" Ellis said, urging audiences to \"argue right\"—with listening, evidence and a goal of understanding rather than shouting to win.

Ava Andrade, also a Newton South junior, described the challenge of being multiracial and urged the district to provide dedicated spaces for mixed-race students. Andrade said affinity groups can foster \"valuable relationships, stronger connections and a common goal,\" and cited the Legacy Scholars program as a supportive example.

Noor (Nour) delivered a first-person narrative about hair and identity, describing pressure to straighten natural curls and the confidence she found after embracing her hair. \"Pain is not beauty. Confidence is beauty,\" she said, urging self-acceptance and community support.

Susani Lewis, a junior at another Newton high school, defined colorism and outlined its effects on self-esteem and opportunity, citing historical roots and psychological research such as the doll test. Lewis said implicit bias shapes preferences in dating, hiring and social treatment and argued that conversations and education are needed to change those patterns.

Why it matters: Students linked personal identity with civic life, framing school-based supports and civil discourse as pathways to healthier communities and stronger democracy. The superintendent, Anna Nolan, praised the students' leadership and highlighted debate and Legacy Scholars as programs that teach listening and perspective-taking.

Ending: Organizers and school leaders used the speeches to urge continued support for youth programs and to publicize local opportunities, including the Legacy Scholars group and a Reverend Haywood scholarship fund mentioned later in the program.","Four student speakers at Newton's MLK Day celebration urged the community to embrace civil disagreement, create affinity spaces for multiracial students, challenge colorism and celebrate natural hair. School leaders praised the students and highlighted debate and support programs that foster civic engagement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6743417,"Harmony Foundation and Newton leaders highlight community partnerships, scholarship fundraising at MLK celebration",6150,1320000,7470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65&start=1320&end=7470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2137314-d71cc2be33882875e87174e3dff5fa65/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","/articles/6743417/Harmony-Foundation-and-Newton-leaders-highlight-community-partnerships-scholarship-fundraising-at-MLK-celebration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743417-dcec354a3b5cec17d549c2a294f2b620/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174858&Signature=a5RXLI4IoeQOTrSLuusKyAJoWNspVWyUV0tSJmj9i-qvxxF-5WFj-V0x4cDgS9YetFFabOyfm-XP1~dOveM6i~4Kcg24mKvOICD499b-ehxBhFR1IL4~Z8XPNv4-jfzZcw4mQEnG1jV~BOv2d~N5rttSsYj5-cdyqGbnUrRdLScxIjyNGHQ589hCR9wC5D7kZdt-Am2Suog0N7lzSpFGiysis3UkBgtUakNAIyTd9nUfmOm7AWXyR~1~2jgk2H~pzO77rcn6-DPNapvTEYQyxIF3mPLRJZ5CYt8QA9jrYWZbIQaizSJybzPnQvp1Mj8X9yZAuzzu8-nLwDMnv~P3hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Organizers of Newton's 57th Martin Luther King Jr. celebration used the program to amplify local partners and request support for student scholarships.

The Harmony Foundation described its mission \"to facilitate learning, interaction, understanding, and respect across racial, religious, and ethnic dimensions within the Newton community.\" Several board members offered brief reflections tying the day's theme, \"Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars,\" to perseverance and collective action.

Mayor Ruben Fuller thanked clergy, community organizers and elected officials in the audience and referenced national events and local climate impacts while reaffirming support for inclusion and civic engagement. Local officials named in remarks included state representatives and city council members; Fuller also highlighted civic groups such as the Newton Free Library, Rotary and the Newton Youth Success Collaborative.

Fundraising and resources: Organizers invited donations to a scholarship fund honoring Reverend Howard Haywood, a founding leader of the Harmony Foundation who helped start Newton's MLK Day celebration. Program materials included QR codes for contributions; the MC asked attendees to scan the code during a short musical interlude. The program also announced a community fair in the hallway featuring local nonprofits and resource tables; organizers later corrected an omission and added an additional vendor to the printed list.

Why it matters: The event doubled as a community-building moment and a practical fundraising drive for youth scholarships and local nonprofit work. Officials and organizers used the stage to connect volunteers and donors with continuing efforts around racial, ethnic and religious harmony.

Ending: Attendees were directed to a post-service community fair and reception and thanked sponsors and volunteers for supporting the day's activities.","Organizers thanked local partners, introduced a Reverend Haywood scholarship fund and invited attendees to a community fair and reception. Mayor Ruben Fuller and Harmony Foundation leaders emphasized local partnerships, volunteer support and gift opportunities to sustain youth programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Keynote speaker urges Newton to "resurrect" Martin Luther King as a radical and confront whiteness

Newton students call for civil discourse, affinity spaces and action on colorism at MLK event

Harmony Foundation and Newton leaders highlight community partnerships, scholarship fundraising at MLK celebration