Boynton Beach, Fla. – The spirit and logic of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is alive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365-days a year for many in South Florida, such as friends and supporters of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, the Martin Luther King Jr. Coordinating Committee in West Palm Beach, the Spady Museum in Delray Beach, and others.

In the latest example, the Spady Museum, forced to postpone this year’s signature MLK event in January due to the Omicron variant, kept the beat going in the spirit of the self-proclaimed drum major for justice, peace and righteousness by welcoming back 300 guests to the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, at the Indian Springs Country Club in Boynton Beach.

The April 4 event was an enthusiastic return to celebration of the civil rights leader’s life and legacy, with guests treated to operatic renditions of African-American spirituals and freedom songs, performed by Hued Songs.

Hued Songs is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that celebrates Black culture through artistic experiences. The organization works to remove barriers to arts access and provides a platform on which Black and Brown artists can be seen, heard and paid.

Three guest speakers – Dr. Traci Baxley, Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Mike Burke, and Palm Beach County Community Remembrance Project Committee founder and Vice Mayor Gregg Weiss – shared their work through the lens of Dr. King’s vision.

Baxley’s new book, "Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids," was on sale at the event and is what she calls a "road-tested resource," grounded in her experiences as an educator and cultural coach for parents and caregivers.

Through her book, Baxley, a professor of education who has spent 30 years teaching diversity and inclusion, offers essential guidance and curriculum that many parents have been searching for. The mother of five encourages parents to acknowledge their influence in developing compassionate, socially-conscious kids. She said she aims to help readers recognize parenting as a form of activism.

The event sponsors included the Delray Beach Redevelopment Agency, State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Palm Beach County, Tourist Development Council, and Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, at 170 NW Fifth Ave. in Delray Beach, showcases the contributions of African-, Caribbean- and BahamianAmericans to Florida and the U.S. and is the only cultural center of its kind in Palm Beach County.

Programs include exhibitions, museum tours, and community events. Call 561-279-8883 or visit spadymuseum.com