The City of Rocky Mount invites the community to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 37th Annual Unity Breakfast on Monday, January 20, 2025, at the Rocky Mount Event Center, located at 285 NE Main Street. This free event, a long-standing tradition in its 37th year, begins with breakfast at 7am, followed by a powerful program at 8am.

This year’s featured speaker is Jaki Shelton Green, the ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina. Green, an acclaimed writer and cultural ambassador, is the first African American and third woman to serve as North Carolina’s Poet Laureate. Her accolades include induction into the NC Literary Hall of Fame and recognition as a 2019 Academy of American Poet Laureate Fellow.

The program will also feature moving presentations from the winners of the MLK Oratorical Competition, reflections from local clergy, and a moment for the community to unite in celebrating Dr. King’s legacy.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Archie Jones, Director of Human Relations for the City of Rocky Mount, shared:

“The Unity Breakfast and Program is a moment for reflection, inspiration, and action. It’s an opportunity for attendees to connect with one another, reaffirm our shared values of equality and justice, and leave with renewed energy to make a difference. The event is a vital part of our community’s ongoing journey toward unity.”

A Local Connection to History

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s connection to Rocky Mount is deeply significant. On November 27, 1962, Dr. King delivered a historic speech in the gymnasium of Booker T. Washington High School (now a city recreation center gym). Before an audience of 1,800 people, Dr. King used the refrain “I have a dream,” lines that would become iconic in his landmark address at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in August 1963.

In his Rocky Mount speech, Dr. King envisioned a future of equality, saying:

“I have a dream that one day right here in Rocky Mount, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will meet at the table of brotherhood, knowing that one God brought man to the face of the Earth. I have a dream tonight that one day my little daughter and my two sons will grow up in a world not conscious of the color of their skin, but only conscious of the fact that they are members of the human race.”

Historians have noted the importance of this speech, with some suggesting it marked one of the earliest uses of the “I have a dream” phrase. While not definitively its first use, it remains a pivotal moment in the evolution of King’s rhetoric, blending inspiration with a call to action—a legacy that continues to resonate in Rocky Mount today.

Event Details

-Date: Monday, January 20, 2025

-Location: Rocky Mount Event Center, 285 NE Main St.

-Breakfast: 7am, Program: 8am

Join the community as we reflect on Dr. King’s enduring impact and continue his work toward unity and justice. For more information, contact the Department of Human Relations or visit the City of Rocky Mount’s website.