Sen. Tammy Witherspoon, D-McComb, the keynote speaker for the The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Banquet, announces her theme for the speech, which was "Steadfast and Immovable." Witherspoon, an advocate for pay equity and education, said the community must learn to be steadfast and immovable together in order to bring change to culture. Former mayor Phillip West dedicated the Sunday night event to Judge Mary Lee Toles, who died in late 2017. (Clara Turnage / The Natchez Democrat)

Natchez resident Evelyn Hutchins sings as the crowd performs "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Banquet Sunday night in the Natchez Convention Center. (Clara Turnage / The Natchez Democrat)

John West claps during Kathleen Dunbar's solo during the annual award banquet honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday night in the Natchez Convention Center. (Clara Turnage / The Natchez Democrat)

The Rev. Melvin White sings 'A Change is Gonna Come,' during the annual awards banquet honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after which the crowd gave him a standing ovation. (Clara Turnage / The Natchez Democrat)