By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
On a night devoted to making joyful noise unto the land, a standing ovation was reserved for a 10-year-old boy who talked.
That's because Stacy Pullium Jr., a fifth grader at Dowagiac's Patrick Hamilton Middle School and son of the master of ceremonies, recited the ringing words of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech that the civil rights leader delivered in 1963 to a Washington audience that included Dr. Jean O. Smith.
From memory.
The audience at Second Baptist Church Sunday night for the Black History Month program, "Look How Far God's Brought Us," leaped to its feet.
It took Stacy three days to memorize King's famous speech.
The music-oriented program was divided into sections: civil rights anthems, such as "We Shall Overcome," "Lift Every Voice and Sing," "Let There be Peace on Earth," and "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" by Lula Holts; hymns featuring the children's and youth choirs, "Jesus Loves the Little Children," "Jesus Loves Me" and "At the Cross"; spirituals, including "Roll Jordan Roll" featuring Mrs. Smith, "Swing Low" and "Over My Head"; and a gospel tribute, "Take It Away" with the youth choir, "I Need You to Hold My Hand" by Charlotte Dillard and the invitational, "Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving."
Cousins Darnesha Bradshaw and Antonette Green gave readings on Hiram Rhoades Revels and Lewis Sheridan Leary.