“If the inexpressible cruelty of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail.” 
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

The Rev. Dr. Dumas Harshaw, Jr. delivers the benediction for the breakfast.

Celebration of Martin Luther King Day began early on the national holiday for many in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the surrounding towns and cities.   Citizens, government officials and religious and community leaders from all over the Triangle gathered for the 26th Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast.  The event took place on Monday, January 15, 2007, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in RTP, with the program kicking off at 8am.

The theme of the 2007 breakfast embraced the philosophy of making MLK Day a day of service, not a day of rest from work or school, “Improve Tomorrow Today…Do Your Part…Every Day in Every Way.” 

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Bauman, a pastor from New York City, delivers the keynote for the 2007 event.

The Sheraton joint ballrooms are filled to capacity with those wishing to remember Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy.

The Rev. Dr. David Forbes gives an update on the Triangle Lost Generation Force and asks for donations to help support their ongoing work.

Progress Energy Vice President Hilda Pinnix-Ragland served as presiding officer over the breakfast program.  She introduced a wide variety of clergy and politicians to bring greetings and prayers from all faiths and parts of the Triangle.  Mayors from Raleigh and Chapel Hill, Charles Meeker and Kevin Foy, joined Durham City Council member Howard Clement on the podium, along with N.C. Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue.

“I hope that each of you today will observe Martin Luther King Day as a day on, not a day off, not just a day of remembering, but of helping.”
- Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy.

High schooler & middle schooler Jonathan (left) & Blair Clay sing "The Prayer" in honor of the day.

Duke University President Dr. Richard Broadhead spoke of how "young people in school today didn't live that history."

5th grader Adrian Bullock brings the words of MLK to life in a very real and impressive way.

Musical selections from various groups were peppered throughout the program.  For all the distinguished guests and speakers, the show was stolen by Adrian Bullock, a 5th grader at Fuller Elementary School in Raleigh.  He delivered Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, from memory.  The lilt in the young man’s voice brought King’s words to life. 

“Master Adrian Bullock, God gave you a gift that you are using,” beamed Pinnix-Ragland after his performance.

CBC Vice President of Community Relations Paul Pope spoke a few words on behalf of the company, “We are proud to have been at the table [as sponsors] for 17 years.  We do it for you.  We are grateful at the CBC family for your efforts and what you do for us.  Thank you for watching and listening.”

Rev. Dr. Stephen Bauman says "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

The Reverend Stephen P. Bauman came from New York City to deliver the keynote address.  He pastors of Christ Church United Methodist in Manhattan, where only 10 members attended when he first arrived.  The church has since expanded to include people of 50 different nationalities and ethnic groups.

“We are in this together, and we do need each other,” he began.  He wove a story, asking the questions, “What really matters at the end of the day?  Whose values are we choosing?”

Durham City Council Member Howard Clement III welcomes the crowd to the breakfast.

The Reconcilliation Voices from Durham's Reconcilliation United Methodist Church lift up their voices in song.

Past AARP President Dr. Thelma Cumbo Lennon recognizes honored guests.

In speaking of Dr. King, Bauman said, “He was a glorious paradox of a man.  He never forgot for a nanosecond who he was or where he was from and where his originating obligations lay.  Yet at the same time was never constricted by this knowledge.  Instead he had the ability to reach way, way beyond his community and touch the whole world and speak to the human condition.”

“He [Martin Luther King] was able to see the whole human family & take them all in.”
– Dr. Stephen Bauman

Capitol Broadcasting Company served as a major sponsor of the MLK Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast for the 17th continuous year.  Approximately 1,800 people attended the breakfast this year, which is free and open to the public.

WRAL-TV aired the MLK Breakfast on the WRAL NewsChannel twice during the holiday, at 2pm and at 8pm.

Antoinette Knox, Miss Hampton University 2005-2006, sang a souful spiritual in memory of Coretta Scott King.

"I know how valuable it is to have a good education & a solid foundation," says Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy.

CBC VP of Community Relations Paul Pope makes a few announcements.

“If you love a child here [in Raleigh, Durham, etc], the whole world has been embraced.”
– Dr. Stephen Bauman

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker gives an update on the state of his city.	N.C. Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue represents the state on the podium.
Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, Progress Energy VP, serves as presiding officer of the MLK breakfast.	Rabbi Eric Solomon says a universal prayer for world peace.