Annual Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast offered unity in the community, honored doctors and lawyers 

WARNER ROBINS — The 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast was held on Saturday, Jan. 17, at First Baptist Church of Garmon St. 

The breakfast was sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Beta Lambda Chapter, Gamma Sigma Lambda Chapter and the Houston County Unity Breakfast Committee. 

Melania Jones, a student at Houston County High School and Aiden Harden, a student at Huntington Middle School served as the emcees for the event. 

Other youth speakers included Craig and Christian Ransaw of Bonaire Middle School and Zanaylah Jordan of Perry High School. 

Attendees of the breakfast also were given performances by the Huntington Middle School Choir, a vocal performance from Aislinn Haugabrook and a performance from the Gospel Music Workshop of America Macon Chapter. 

Rev. Dr. Carlos L. Kelley gave the keynote speech at the event.

Kelley read from Psalm 126:5-6 which reads:

 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” 

He said that this verse reminds him that a change is going to come in society. 

“In 1964, legendary singer and songwriter Sam Cooke wrote a powerful and prophetic song called ‘A Change is Gonna Come’,” he said. 

Kelley referenced the lyrics from the song: “It’s been a long time coming, but I know change is gonna come, oh yes it will.” He said these were more than just lyrics to a song. 

“These words were a cry of a people who have been shackled by oppression, but yet they refuse to stop believing in the promise of freedom,” he said. “From the cotton fields in the south to the march on Washington [D.C.], through the struggle of voting rights to the fight for desegregation, our people held the belief that change was going to come.” 

Kelley shared that things did change and improve for the African American community by changing laws and integrating schools. 

“From the halls of Congress to the Oval Office, what once was considered impossible now has become a possibility,” he said. “But, here we are in 2026 and with all the progress that has been made, the truth is it feels like we’re doing the moonwalk and going backwards.” 

Kelley pointed out that Psalm 126 was written by a people who were meant to live between promise and fulfillment. These people were returning from Babylonian exile. He said they were free but not fully restored. 

“They had made progress but the work was incomplete. That should sound familiar,” he said. “We’ve seen progress but we’re not where we need to be. Change is gonna come but you’re going to have to endure a season of tears.” 

Kelley said the world has seen a constant rise in gun violence and mass shootings. He claimed those in power are not making an effort to change these gun laws among other political issues. 

“You look at what’s happening in Minnesota where people are being racially profiled and dragged out their homes, schools, places of employment and their cars to check to see whether or not they were born in the United States,” he said. 

Kelley quoted Martin Luther King Jr., saying “darkness does not dry our darkness and hate cannot dry out hate.”

Kelley questioned the crowd about what they are contributing to the advancement of the African American community. 

“How are you using your talents to help the cause rather than just sitting on the sidelines simply just talking about what’s wrong,” he said. “My question is ‘what are you doing to make this right’?”

Towards the end of the breakfast, local students received the MLK Scholarship award and African American doctors and lawyers were recognized. 

Member of the MLK Breakfast Committee Ira L. Foster said that 5.5 percent of lawyers are black and 5.2 percent of doctors are black. 

“As you can see, we as black people are underrepresented in the medical and legal field,” he said. 

Foster thanked the doctors and lawyers in attendance which included City of Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick.  

“We thank you as you take care of folks when they’re sick and help us with our legal problems, and we just wanted to acknowledge you for that,” he said.