Martin Luther King Center hosts Dr. Bernice A. King during 50th anniversary celebration

MUSKOGEE, Okla. —The Martin Luther King Center in Muskogee kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Derrick Reed, program director at Muskogee's Center said it’s the only MLK Center in Oklahoma.

“What a better way to celebrate than to have one of the daughters, one of the children of Dr. Martin Luther King in our state, not only in our state but in our city, and not only in our city but right here in our Center,” Reed said.

Reed said having Bernice visit was a big honor.

"Just to be able to shake the hand, be able to hear the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King's daughter. You know, it's an amazing feeling. We're honored to have her in our center to see what we do. She's the director of the center in Atlanta, Georgia that her mother started and to see what we are doing all the way here in Oklahoma, it's a great feeling. It's a great feeling to have her here as well," Reed said.

Bernice said the load is heavy, but it is her responsibility to carry on the legacy of her parents. Speaking to the more than 800 people who came out this weekend allowed her to continue to shine light on the legacy she hopes to continue, while also motivating people in the community.

“We individually ultimately and collectively have got to focus on what is it that we want to see ultimately in our world. And of course we had been talking about the beloved community my father talk about in his lifetime. But my mother actually expanded upon as the beloved the community when you talk about really a world where love prevails,” Bernice said.

Bernice’s mom built the first MLK Center in their Atlanta basement when Bernice was 5 years old, just two months after her father was assassinated. Now, Bernice is the Center’s director.

“And so this year as a part of our theme throughout the King Center we talked about shifting the culture climate throughout the study and practice of King and nonviolence,” Bernice said.

Things like taking a personal audit of your own life and your commitment to justice and equity, just to name a few. She said being a love centered person is where it starts.

“When I see the energy of a young generation saying that, ‘This is not right, we want another future, we want to make sure that we have committed to each other as a humanity,’ that gives me hope to keep going on. Seeing that there are people out there doing good work and recognizing I come from  ancestors if they overcame I and we can overcome,” Bernice said.

Being the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there were many things her and her family had to overcome, but she said she continues to work to fulfill the legacy left behind.

“Sometimes people they're not born into a legacy like that, but when you're born into something that the world is still benefiting from how dare I try to go over here and carve out his big legacy from me. This is a lot to carry forward. And still so incomplete, there's so many dimensions and pieces to it, and still so many things that we have to do constantly because there are things that try to come against that legacy,” Bernice said.

The intimate conversation left many members in the Muskogee community and even others who traveled to come hear her speak inspired to do good work in their community that will promote nonviolent social change.