Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  I would say that I am a day late with this blog post but I won’t.  I attended Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Flint, Michigan.  Therefore, EVERYDAY is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Me.

I entered every essay contest I found about in grades K-12.  I won a couple of them.  I was even asked to read one of my essays during the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration at my school in 6th grade.  I have never been camera-shy.  So speaking in front of the standing room only audience in the school’s gymnasium didn’t bother me one bit.

The best moment over the years was meeting Dr. King’s daughter, Yolanda.  She delivered the keynote address at a luncheon at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan in January 1991.  Yolanda King’s voice was loud, powerful, and soulful.

Lunch took place immediately after.  My mother and I were very excited to have sat at the same  table as Yolanda during lunch.  Yolanda had such a beautiful smile and talked to everyone seated at the table while we were eating.

When I told Yolanda my name (La Cracha pronounced Lacrisha), she smiled and said my name was beautiful.  She also told me how pretty I was.  After I thanked her, I turned and looked at my mother who was standing right behind me.  Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.  I am sure mine did the same!

To be honest, I wasn’t going to post anything about M.L. King Day.  I was looking through some old pictures a few hours ago and came across the one above.  Besides my mother and siblings, no one else has seen this picture.  Until now.

Yolanda King transitioned into Heaven, but she will always be one of the greatest women I have ever met.