Photos: Gloucester Twp. MLK Day of Service

Delores January 21, 2013 at 08:32 pm

Where's all the kids of color. Isn't there more black people in this township than the 8 people in these pictures. Dr. King we have a long way to go. Birmington Alabama 1955 and Gloucester Township 2013. You can count the amount of black people at this event.

Renee Pilling January 21, 2013 at 09:12 pm

Delores, Really?!?! .... Shame on you! It's people like you that cause trouble in this town with racism ... Instead if making a comment like ... This is so wonderful for the children to get together ... You had to stare at this photo and actually count all the "black people" you could see! Wow.. Such a shame. However, this is a photo of one area not of everyone in attendance! I was there with my two boys and believe me... There were more then 8 African American People there... So before u TRY to start "RACISM DRAMA"... Get the facts straight. Hopefully everyone reading your post will think like myself and not shallow like your post! It was a beautiful day for our children of our community! Way to go kids, and parents too who took the time to bring their children to this event.
-Renee Pilling, Proud resident of Gloucester Township

sylvia January 21, 2013 at 10:14 pm

I was there with my niece. It was nice didn't stay. I somewhat understand where Delores is coming from. I do applaud their efforts, but this township needs to recognize a missing need and everyone has a right to their opinion without going on the defensive Rene. Calm down. It was an eye opener but a good gesture, it could have been more diverse

Heather January 21, 2013 at 11:27 pm

I don't believe the township approved or denied anyone who wanted to participate. People who wanted to join others in their community in a day of service, came out. I don't believe there was a head count of how many white or black people were permitted to come out. I think the more important point is that the community, both black and white came together to enjoy a day of service to others. I think Dr. King would be happy to see the picture above of black and white people sitting together to help feed those less fortunate than us.

Kevin Walters January 22, 2013 at 12:45 am

When the architects of our great republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every America was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed to the inalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."
King

Kevin Walters January 22, 2013 at 12:51 am

King would have wanted to see young african american men and boys at an event such as this and not always featured in a negative light in media. This is where he referred to the verse: "America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds." Peace out. Nobody knows our stuggles unless you are walking the stuggles with us, not against us. Black males appear absent in all these photos????????????????????

Lauren Burgoon (Editor) January 22, 2013 at 03:38 pm

From what I saw yesterday, the event was quite diverse, in terms of race, age, families and single people, etc. The original photos happened to be the people at the projects I was in the room for, but represented only 2 of the dozen projects that happened yesterday. The additional photos by Laura Powers (thanks Laura!) show more of the action and who volunteered.

Lauren Burgoon (Editor) January 22, 2013 at 03:40 pm

Thanks too to Renee and Melissa for their photos.

Susan Greene January 23, 2013 at 04:09 am

Kevin,
Maybe next year you should come and help out and you would know how nice it is. I was there and it was a beautiful event with plenty of people from all Races and walks of life. If you didn't see any black males in the photo's then I wonder what photo's you were looking at. In my opinion as long as you have the have the bitterness you wanted to cast over the even by your comments on your post, then maybe you have not really embraced Dr. King's Dream in your heart. I know in my heart that Dr. King was smiling down on the event, it was a beautiful , beautiful day of Unity and your not going to cast a "negative light" on it to anyone who attended. Again, did you really look at the pictures??????? God Bless

Angie Jones January 23, 2013 at 05:22 am

The pictures look like a pretty diverse group to me. I don't think the events organizers can control who comes out. Was this event not created by a latino?

Angie Jones January 23, 2013 at 05:24 am

Did you bring your family out Delores?

Lee January 23, 2013 at 04:35 pm

I was there with my daughter. We had a wonderful time. I also thought the same thing. I was a little disappointed in the African American turn out. It should have been more than that. We, as African American people, could do better than that. On the other hand, people have their reasons why they did or didn't participate. I am not here to judge. I did what me and my daughter preferred.

Ann January 31, 2013 at 05:36 am

That's a great comment lee and I thank you for that! It was a great day and everyone and anyone was welcome to sign up and help. I thought it was a good mixture of people like Lauren said however if certain people were missing then they should've signed up. The question is why didn't more African Americans sign up on such an important day in history Sylvia ? It wasn't the townships fault!