Newport Public Library

We have just finished our second show of this tour of Coretta Scott King: A Stride Towards Freedom. The style hearkens back to the Freedom Concerts of the Civil Rights Movement, taking on the form of a story and a concert. Our lead, Marva Williams, sings and acts beautifully as our Coretta, and her male counterpart, Justin Hailey, plays Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., her husband. Teresa and I chime in throughout the show, playing everything from narrow-minded southerners to King supporters. All of us have felt the historic impact of Inauguration Day, as well as the deep meaning this story holds for African-Americans, and all Americans.

Again, we have only performed the show twice, once at the Akron Civic Center in northern Ohio (a trim four-hour drive away), and today at the Newport Public Library in northern Kentucky. And as we take our bows, we see tears in many an eye, silent tribute to the Kings and the Movement that has brought about the nomination, election, and inauguration of our 44th US president, Barack Obama.

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Tomorrow we perform in Cincinnati at the Nativity School, and at night we will drive to Indianapolis for an early morning show. Audiences have been strangely enthusiastic about the story we tell, which is I believe a testament to the spirit of hope and community that makes America great. Whatever differences we have, whatever varying opinions we hold, this show reminds us that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. It stares into the darkness of our past and reflects back the light of progress and optimism, and we are happy to bring this light to Americans of all ages.