By Ivan Pereira
The forum, hosted by the Tri-Community Youth Council, a new anti- violence organization run by Councilman James Sanders' chief of staff, Donovan Richards, posed the question as to whether King's dream is alive today. Although black Americans have more civil rights compared to the '50s and '60s, residents said many fall through the cracks.”We got tired of all the shootings in the neighborhood, so a group of us got together and asked, 'What can we do?'” Richards said.After viewing a documentary on King's life and teachings, the forum opened up to discuss the matter. A panel of community and civic leaders, including St. Luke pastor Dr. Michael A. Baston; Les Paultre, father of Nicole Paultre-Bell, whose fiance was Sean Bell; Christina Winslow of the group A Cause, a Concern & Solution; and Betty Dopson, reflected on the failure of today's youth to live up to King's vision.The panelists said black teens and young adults are ignorant and do not respect the rights their elders fought for their rights.”Even during the marches in the South, children were part of the revolution. We need to gear children to focus their expectations above themselves,” Bastion said.The panelists said the ignorance is due to the lack of role models and organizations to steer kids away from gangs and other bad life choices. Panel member and community activist Ralph Greer reminded the audience, which included many teens and children from the neighborhood, that education should not be taken for granted.”Back in the day you weren't allowed a proper education. Kids don't understand that education is the key,” he said.Lance Feurtado and his brother Todd described choosing a problem lifestyle. The two said they disregarded the advice of their elders and lived a rough life filled with gang violence, crime and drugs.After spending decades in jail, the brothers said they opened up and realized they had to help their community instead of destroying it.”Respect yourself, respect your parents, and respect your community,” Todd Feurtado said. “When you respect everyone, those on the outside will have no choice but to respect us.”The celebration ended with what Donavan Richards called living examples of how the youth keeps living King's dream. Area youth performance groups, including the Elite Marching Band and the Kaeda dance group, performed their upbeat tunes and charming grooves.By using their talents to enlighten everyone in the community, both black and white, Richards said they represented a new era of Dr. King's dream.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
