From Legacy to Blueprint: A Meaningful MLK Day in Greer

This marked my third straight year hosting the City of Greer Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Life and Legacy Event, and every year it hits just as deep.

There is something special about this gathering. It is soulful. It is worshipful. It feels rooted. This year carried even more weight as Greer celebrates its sesquicentennial, 150 years of history, growth, and community. Kicking off the year in January with an event like this sets the tone in the best possible way.

I also got to share a personal moment with the crowd. This past year, I officially moved to Greer. So this is a hometown event for me now. I joked that I moved here because I am excited about what the next 150 years hold. That line landed, and honestly, it is true. This city is moving forward with intention, and it feels good to be part of that story.

One of the most meaningful parts of this event, year after year, is the wide range of faith communities represented and the strong presence of elders who have supported and sustained this tradition for decades. Their consistency gives this celebration its depth and credibility.

This year’s keynote speaker was Woody Dantzler III, a Clemson Athletics Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback from Orangeburg, South Carolina. As he spoke, he centered his message on Dr. King’s question, “Where do we go from here?” and the blueprint Dr. King laid out for progress.

That moment resonated deeply with me. In One Voice: A Black History Narrative, I perform Dr. King’s “Blueprint” speech, delivered in October 1967, just months before his assassination. Hearing that same framework echoed from the keynote stage felt like confirmation that this message is still alive, still needed, and still guiding us forward.

Another powerful highlight was the presentation of the Keys to the City by Mayor Rick Danner to a hometown hero, Kris Bruton, a former professional basketball player from Greer who spent years traveling to more than 95 countries with the Harlem Globetrotters. His career as both an athlete and a global ambassador for the game made the honor especially meaningful.

Standing on stage with leaders, athletes, and neighbors, all gathered to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, was a reminder of why this work matters. This event is not just a ceremony. It is a moment of alignment between past, present, and future.

To be able to host it in my hometown, alongside a city that is clearly thinking ahead, is something I do not take lightly.