I am very disappointed in the turn out of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Hampton County on Sunday. There were only a total of 3 floats and 18 other participants. It was a sham and mockery for what the objective for the parade represented. I felt a deep sense of sadness and frustration as I watched what used to be a grand event. To top it all off, Wade Hampton High School band marched about 100 yards before detouring to get on their bus. This was a slap in the face of the committee members, African Americans, historians, elderly, Freedom fighters, equal activist, and Hamptonians of past, present, and future. I was appalled at the gall of one of our cornerstone to disrespect the vitality and symbolism of the parade.

    As a former member of the band that prided itself in reverberating the music to move the soul and humanity especially during this time, I felt it a waste of time to have the band show up and do pretty muchnothing. The band director should feel ashamed at the condition of what he allowed or commanded the band to do. What is the whole purpose of showing up if only to halfheartedly perform for a majestic cause? I am ashamed to be affiliated with something so subservient.

    There were only 2 non African American participants in the parade as well as a few scattered along the parade route. If we were to pole the participants of the Hampton County Watermelon festival parade and compare them to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade, we would physically see how insignificant one is to the other.

    I wish the Martin Luther King Jr. parade committee would have went further in taking steps to make the parade into what it should be. This parade wasn’t what I as an African American male knew it should have been. It seemed to me as a last minute thing to be put together with no regards as to the impact it would have on the spectators. I asked some businesses and churches why their involvement was not seen and was told they knew nothing of it until the day before and day of. This is not the act of pride and glory of what the parade stood for. They also must hold themselves accountable. If they think they did a great job with it then they should be removed immediately. When will we be held accountable? When will we hold others accountable?

    I feel as much to blame as well as any for my non participation. I wanted so much to stand at attention and watch the progress which I thought Hampton County as a whole has made and ended up feeling deflated and disgusted.

    I vow to make it my heartfelt duty to revive the pride of peace makers whom have come with effort, sweat, tears, and blood to work with a great man who was the most commandeering voice of equal rights. I will be one of the participants and will get more to participate in the parade next year and years to come. This atrocity must not