NATCHEZ — In a gathering that was both celebratory and reflective, hundreds of area youth gathered Monday to remember the struggles of the past and recently achieved historic milestones.

The Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture hosted its annual “I have a Dream” luncheon at the Natchez Convention Center.

The program was led by local young people ages 6 to 20.

Featuring a number of musical, dance and interpretive movement routines, the program’s youth involvement began with a prayer by Kaleab Robinson.

Robinson thanked God that King had been allowed to bring his dream of racial equality to the United States.

“We thank you for blessing his dream to become reality,” Robinson prayed.

“We pray that you would continue to bless the United States of America.”

Welcoming the audience to the celebration, Stacy Woods reminded them that they were gathered together to honor a man who fought for equality.

“It is because of him and his dream that (today) we will inaugurate our first black president,” Woods said.

Even though King did not live to see his dream fulfilled, Woods said his memory stood as a beacon of inspiration for following generations.

“Let us stand with greater determination,” Woods said.

Minister Joseph Paul West, 20, who delivered a charge to the audience, said King’s legacy lived on because it was about helping others.

“What one does for himself dies with him, but what he does for others lives on,” West said.

Comparing life to a journey, West said you couldn’t complete your journey without a vision.

“I have a vision that we as black youth will stop focusing on the clothes we wear, but on the content of our characters,” he said.

“I have a vision we will realize that when we are called negative names, we will not react because we realize that it is not what you are called but what you answer to that matters.”

His vision also included a dream young black men would start to respect women more and that the youth of the nation would realize that they can overcome many obstacles if they rely on God.

“(God) has promised in his word that the weapons formed against us will fail,” West said.

In order for King’s legacy to continue to be relevant, young people need to realize that God has called them to serve the community, Reginald Smith-Good said.

“If our actions fail to reflect this, they will display an attitude of self-centeredness and cheap works,” Smith-Good said.

In remembering King’s dream, young people need to have a dream of their own, said DaMira McGruder, who sang at the program.

“My dream is to be a doctor,” she said.

The program also included vocal performances by the Bishop’s Men of Valor, the combined choirs of Zion Chapel and Morning Star churches, and Antonya Green and Atilya Green. Saxophonist Daniel Jolla performed an instrumental solo.

Dance performances were presented by the God’s Anointed Children’s Praise Ministry, the Diamond Princess group and the Queen Dancers.

Local students Jasmine Ivory and Myasha Miller read poems, and Denzell Anderson read King’s “Mine Eyes Have Seen The Mountaintop” speech.