NATCHEZ &045; Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was living on in the eyes of Natchez youth Monday, and they wanted to make sure everyone knew it.

&uot;Dr. King was a man who felt deeply about pursuing his dream to the end,&uot; said guest speaker Matteson Ford, a fourth-grader at Morgantown Elementary. &uot;Do you have a dream?&uot;

Ford was one of more than 30 children and teenagers who performed in some way at the annual NAPAC luncheon.

&uot;Dr. King would be very proud today to know his efforts have come a long way,&uot; Ford said. &uot;Thanks to him and the people that helped him we live better lives.

&uot;I stand here today to say he died not in vain, because his legacy lives on.&uot;

Ford reminded the crowd of close to 500 to stay focused as King did and continue to move forward.

The program also included performances by the St. Mark Youth Choir of Clayton, La., members of the Pilgrim Baptist Church youth group and the Sinai Youth Instrumental Ensemble.

Denzell Anderson, of Antioch Baptist Church, read a letter he’d written to King.

&uot;We are still struggling to get to the mountain top,&uot; Anderson read. &uot;We have climbed some hills and we have begun to embrace the idea that skin color should be a bright, colorful rainbow.&uot;

Anderson referred to instances in his life, like the election of Mayor Phillip West, where he’s seen racial equality. He attributed these changes to the early work of King.

&uot;I realized your meaning at scout camp as little white boys joined hands with little black boys and sang.&uot;

The small number of adults who spoke at the event praised the performances and ideas of the children.

&uot;I want to commend our children for doing a job that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud of today,&uot; mistress of ceremonies Vickie Green said.