Earnestine Johnson, director of the Sunrise Choir, was one of the winners of the Beautiful Dreamer Award.

WHITE SPRINGS — In celebrating its Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Monday, the Town of White Springs focused on progress.

The program was hosted by Mayor Rhett Bullard with musical performances by Johnny Bullard and the Sunrise Choir directed by Earnestine Johnson with members from New Bethel AME Church, Sweet Home Baptist Church, New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Zion Temple Holiness Church, Beulah Baptist Church, St. Luke Freewill Baptist Church, White Springs United Methodist Church and Greater Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

Spencer Lofton, the guest speaker, addressed the history of not only the United States when it came to African-American importance, but the history of White Springs during the time of slavery and overcoming diversity.

“Listen, learn cause there will always be a test later,” Lofton said. “The Air Force taught me to tell you what I am going to tell you, tell you and then tell you again.

“The trick is to tell you in three to four different ways.”

Lofton started with the 1840’s in White Springs and how the African-Americans were slaves and the progress White Springs made in just a few years starting in 1855.

“On the first of January 1863, proclamation 95, better known to us as the Emancipation Proclamation freed those in the South,” Lofton said. “Progress was made toward the dream. Confederate soldier Captain William W. Adams in 1855 resigned from the military and opened up a store in White Springs. He ran the store until 1886, it is one of the oldest wooden framed structures and still standing in White Springs.”

Lofton also talked about Lillian Eugenia Smith, born in Jasper, who wrote the book “Strange Fruit” about a African-American woman and a Caucasian man that are in a relationship. The book was originally published in 1944, but was banned in several locations as well as the United Postal Service not mailing the book.

“1955 … Smith wrote another book in response to the Brown vs. The Board of Education called ‘Now is The Time,’” Lofton said. “Not past, not then, not in the future, but now. Because the dream of the King was out there right now.”

Lofton focused on the innovation and progress that White Springs had made from 1855 to today.

After the history of White Springs, Lofton moved to King’s speech and his history, even changing part of King’s “I have a dream” speech to fit to White Springs.

“I have a dream, that one day on the banks of the Suwannee. The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood at the old fashioned date. Mayday the festival, the azalea festival or even at the Jamboree,” Lofton said.

Also during Monday’s event, five Beautiful Dreamer Awards given out to individuals who have made an impact on the community in some way. The winners were Joyce Clarridy, Rev. Fred Scippio Sr., Earnestine Johnson, Kenny Hutcherson and Becky Dieffenbach

Rhett Bullard gave a special thanks to the members of the Special Events Committee: Shauna Adams-Farries, Mary Lou Bullard, Kizzy Burch, Paige Bullard, Coretta Udell-Ford, Sonya T. Small, Nicole Williams, Tonja Brown, Brenda Gipson, Rhonda Johnson and Sandy Welden.