Thousands of marchers made their way through Sacramento city neighborhoods towards the state Capitol Monday to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marchers started in Oak Park and joined forces with an upbeat crowd at City College before heading downtown.
Behind the City College stadium, several young women in tiaras greeted marchers along the route. One of them was Jordan Davis, Miss Black Sacramento 2016, who sees herself as a role model.
"It's really just inspiring for little black girls to see black women wearing crowns, in positions where we're seen as beautiful and it's inspiring to be out here on the most important day of African-American history to represent that," says Davis.
Winning the pageant brought scholarship money that helps Davis pay tuition at Spelman College.
Richard Moore took in the scene nearby. He heads a group mentoring fatherless boys and their mothers.
Moore says the sight of many races coming together makes a statement.
"Our future - we have the ability to transform it. It's not about the past anymore, it's about the future," says Moore. "And so when I look at all these people here for what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died for, it's not about our past, it's about our future."
Several miles into the march, 10-year-old Leo Abramsky-Sze's legs are feeling a bit sore.
Leo says he's "upset about the times we're in."
"Well it feels like everything that's been built over the last 50 to 60 years is just going to fall apart," says Leo. "I just want other kids my age to know that Martin Luther King Jr. fought really hard and got imprisoned for civil rights and that that fight is not over."
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today