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SALT LAKE CITY — Ten-year-old James Walton proudly held a sign proclaiming "I Am A Man" as he marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in a march sponsored by Westminster College.
"To me, it just means, like, justice and freedom for blacks," the African-American fourth-grader said as drivers passing by the dozens of marchers on 2100 South honked and waved. "It feels pretty good to me."
His mother, Terese Walton, said James is learning in school about the work of the civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 whose legacy is celebrated on the third Monday in January nationwide.
"We're just out here to pay respect and show our support," said Walton, who lives in Salt Lake City. "I think it's important for all of us to understand civil rights and carry the movement forward."
Westminster diversity and inclusion faculty fellow Tamara Stevenson said King's message continues to be relevant.
"We certainly want to remind folks about Dr. King's life and legacy, his work toward civil rights and equality for the marginalized and disenfranchised," she said, work that started with the movement to make African-Americans equal under the law.
"Of course, that applies to many groups that continue to be marginalized in our country today," Stevenson said. "We want to highlight and talk about that, and find ways to bring equality to all."
The college's acting dean of students, Karnell Black, said equality goes beyond race.
"Gender, ability, sexuality, ethnicity — there's so many identities" that need to be addressed, Black said. "I think if Dr. King were still here today, he would be talking about these concerns. … It's not just about race."
Marc Coles-Ritchie said he was there to help his children understand King's teachings.
"We live in a larger society where there's still discrimination and judgement based on race. I want them to understand how important it is to judge people on their character, as Martin Luther King said, not on the color of their skin," he said.
His son, Aidan, 14, said he has seen instances of racism.
"Our country has changed a lot but there is still more to do, still some black boys are getting discriminated against just for wearing a hoodie in a bad neighborhood, stuff like that," the teen said. "Maybe it doesn't happen here as much, but I can still see it."
Rachel Campos, of Salt Lake City, and her son, Michael, 8, marched from the campus along 1300 East to the intersection of 2100 South and 900 East and back Wednesday.
"It's for my son. We want to make sure he's part of the experience," Campos said after the half-hour march with her African-American son. "There's just so much negativity for black males. I want him to see something positive."
Michael, who said he carried a sign about King throughout the march, noticed the reaction. He said he waved back "a few times" at the drivers honking their encouragement.
A couple living along the route stepped out on their porch to applaud as the group passed by their home on 1300 East.
"We've known a lot of black people in our lives, and we care deeply about them. They're wonderful," said Carole Straughn, a retired cancer researcher. "We're very upset with the way black lives don't seem to matter."
Straughn said there's more work to be done on civil rights.
"Martin Luther King got something started, but we're not done yet," she said.
