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The I.T.M. Step Troop entertains the crowd gathered for the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr., appreciation breakfast hosted by the Community Minority Cultural Council in Lynn on Monday. (Spenser Hasak) Purchase this photo

MLK remembered by Lynn CMCC

Briana Alvarez

by

LYNN — The Community Minority Cultural Center (CMCC) honored and celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with its 40th annual breakfast at Knights of Columbus.

This is the center’s only fundraiser for the year, which the CMCC depends on heavily and Lynn residents look forward to.

The tradition began with one of the past founders and presidents of the CMCC, the late Abner Darby, who also served as the executive director of the center for 27 years. Abner Darby and his family would go to Boston every year to celebrate King.

“We didn’t have a celebration like this in the City of Lynn,” CMCC Executive Director Darrell Murkison said.

Murkison continued that Cathy, Abner Darby’s daughter, told him that one day her father recognized the great celebration in Boston but said that they weren’t coming back.

“Next year, we’re gonna have it in Lynn,” Cathy Darby had told Murkison.

Murkison said, “And they’ve been doing it for 40 years since then.”

Abner Darby’s brilliance and impact on Lynn were honored with the Legacy Recognition Award, received by Cathy Darby and Abner Darby’s wife, Mary Patricia Gaines Darby.

“Thank you so much for the recognition, for the honor, and for the support,” Cathy Darby said.

The breakfast was filled with many familiar political faces in Lynn, including Mayor Jared Nicholson; however, it was also filled with everyday residents of the city.

April Anderson, a Lynn resident in attendance at this year’s breakfast, noted that she grew up coming to the breakfast with her parents.

“I remember being young in the culture center, and my sisters were older, and they were always there,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t wait until I got to the age where I could go to the culture center and be there… It’s just boiling support.”

The celebration began with a heartfelt prayer led by Reverend Bria Y. Belim. This was followed by acknowledgments of community leaders and honored guests, including city councilors and members of the School Committee.

The program also featured two moving poetry performances. One was delivered by Lynn residents from the Zion Youth and Young Adults, and the other by poet and author Vick Breedy. Together, the poems honored King’s legacy while celebrating Black excellence and the strength of the community.

A spirited cheer from the Lynn Vocational Technical Institute cheerleading team, followed by an energetic dance performance by the ITM Dance Team, led by James Runner, who was recognized with the Community Recognition Award, filled the room with applause and enthusiastic support for the next generation.

“As we gather to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, we are reminded that real change is led by those who serve with courage, humility, and love for the community,” Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey said as she introduced the morning’s keynote speaker, Councilor Nicole McClain.

“It is a blessing to stand in a room full of people who are not just remembering history but actively continuing the work.” McClain said.

McClain emphasized that while King is often remembered for his dream, his lasting impact came from the “blueprints” he created through collaboration and community. King believed progress was achieved not through isolation or individualism, but by uniting people across race, class, faith, and background around a shared commitment to justice.

That spirit of cooperation, McClain noted, remains essential today as communities continue to confront inequities in education, housing, economic opportunity, and public health.

“I encourage you to learn more about the experiences of Black women in the Civil Rights Movement.” McClain said. “That history is important… We are gathered because of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left behind.”

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