Obamas Celebrate MLK's Birthday At Zion Baptist Church

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama and his family have celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday at morning worship service.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia sat in the second row of Washington's historic Zion Baptist Church, as bright sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows.

The church commemorated the civil rights leader's 83rd birthday with a photo of King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and the words "I Have a Dream" on the program cover. A deacon welcomed the first family and read a passage from King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

The sermon by Rev. Keith Byrd came from Matthew 5, which describes the salt of the earth. Byrd urged the congregation to "preserve our morals, preserve our values" like salt amid political, social and economic turmoil.

Comments

[highfivesix]

10:54 PM on 01/31/2012

What a wonderful commemorative tribute to a leader whose beliefs will far out live his very brief time on earth. It reminds me of the lyrics to the Stevie Wonder song. "Sing Celebrate...For a KIng (let's) Celebrate."

[hellothereandhere]

03:20 PM on 01/17/2012

Nice. History has high regards for MLK. He did not live in vain.

[99think99]

01:43 AM on 01/17/2012

It's obvious by many of the posts in this thread that hatred and racism are alive and well in America.

It's disappointing to see that we haven't evolved any further.

I'm at a loss for words...

[faithworks]

12:52 AM on 01/17/2012

Why exactly do people have a problem with Obama going to church, a black one at that, to honor America's most famous black preacher? The anti-faith bias sometimes goes well beyond logic.

[WRR01]

10:48 AM on 01/17/2012

I didn't know muslims attended baptist church.

LSUtigers1

[faithworks]

11:05 AM on 01/17/2012

Obviously they don't. smh

[kaykaythere]

12:44 AM on 01/17/2012

Once again, after reading a column I am forced to say that if you people posting are Christians, then Heaven is pretty empty.

[69Firebird]

08:33 PM on 01/16/2012

To honor MLK, Brocko goes to a church service conducted by the MOST REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT and listens to more hate America theology. In the afternoon Brocko sits in total awe at a brunch with Bill Ayres as Ayres recounts his glory days of blowing up police stations and killing innocent police officers. Then to cap of the day a brisk game of basketball. Another day without working or trying to lead America out of our current economic doldrums by Brocko. But what the hell, isn't it about time for another 18 day vacation by the impersonator President?.

[johnblack53]

09:53 PM on 01/16/2012

So to promote your lying misleading talking points you totally creates a scenario that never happen. Where is Reverend Wright even mentioned in this article? Did you even bother to read it at all?

[WRR01]

08:28 PM on 01/17/2012

I think you need to use spell check before posting.

[WRR01]

12:26 PM on 01/18/2012

I remember everything I have read.Is that the best you can reply with? We can do this forever.....bring it!


LSUtigers1

[John Paganas]

11:40 PM on 01/16/2012

Is your parties entire stance Mis Information? Stop already, to many people know the facts... Even if Obama took the rest of the month off he would still have barely have taken the amount of vacation time Bush had....

Bush--1050 days vacation..Not counting golf..

[fxcnyc]

08:32 PM on 01/16/2012

I can see the hatred of the Taliban (conservatives) are out in full swing on this board.

[1tenn]

08:41 PM on 01/16/2012

actually the taliban are liberals, taking from others , not following the rules as others do , thinking they are more important than others , etc...

[fxcnyc]

09:47 PM on 01/16/2012

WRONG. Controlling peoples lives, especially through religion, is exactly what the American conservative tries to do, and it's liberals who stop them in their tracks.

[johnblack53]

09:54 PM on 01/16/2012

When has liberals ever took anything from anybody?

[rebrearvue]

08:31 PM on 01/16/2012

Just another photo opportunity in an election year. "Look America. I not only honor the greatness of MLK, I did it at a Baptist Church. Now, everyone that is black or Christian needs to vote for me!!!"

[johnblack53]

09:55 PM on 01/16/2012

Was it just another photo op wjen previous presidents did this or just when the Black one did?

[WRR01]

10:50 AM on 01/17/2012

Just when "o" does it.

LSUtigers1

[John Paganas]

11:50 PM on 01/16/2012

What a pathetic comment.... All presidents have honored this man and this day in church, and all have had their picture taken.. Obama is a Christian, why would he not go to church to praise this very great man on this day... MLK a man who unfortunately you have learned nothing from and plainly seen in your post.. I would imagine that if MLK were alive, he and Obama would be friends, as they have many things in common..

[sharon1122]

08:30 PM on 01/16/2012

If MLK were alive he would be ashamed of Obama. Obama recently stated he wanted more control and power = MLK wanted equality for all. The government, since on Obama's watch is interested in taking over totally having government health care, already taken AIG insurance, bailed out and now has control on most of the car industry and most of the banking. MLK was about equality and having people have a say as Obama is about only him having a say NOT what MLK wanted at all. He fought for just the opposite of what Obama is doing. He would have been ashamed to call him half black. Responding will not get noticed. I don't expect some to agree with me but its now in the history books for future generations to see who brought this country to its knees, a child that was brought up in Indonesia and went to a strick Muslim school and studies the Quaran, one who has a prayer rug under the oval office desk that was given to him as a present. One that no one heard anything about him going to church while he has been in office, he himself said he hasnt figured out which church to go to yet (yeah right) but to get votes he goes to pay respect to a man, if he were alive, that would have zero respect for him.

[RemarkingMark]

09:08 PM on 01/16/2012

You keep talking about government this and that. You do realize that "we the people" elect our government leaders, right? So in effect, you are dissrespecting yourself. Even if you didn't vote for Obama, you still helped him get elected. I know that probably confuses you, so let me explain. It was you, and your kind, that didn't garnish enough votes to elect your candidates. I guess you,and your fellow Republicans,must have just been too lazy in getting out a message worthy of getting enough votes.

[joelmorris3]

09:51 PM on 01/16/2012

Just as Democrats were in 2010, right? A "Do nothing congress", Must be the fault of lazy Democrats if you apply your same reasoning to your side of the isle. Somehow, I dont believe you will.

[johnblack53]

09:56 PM on 01/16/2012

How do people like you know what this man would think? Did he tell you this from the grave?

[Robert Grif]

08:21 PM on 01/16/2012

As most know, there is some controversy about the MLK quote etched in his statute centering on the obvious humility and greatness of Mr. King. "... if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for..." instead of the etched misquote "I was a drum major...". Contrast that with Obama's .."I'm the 4th greatest President.." Obama has no class and I think history will judge him to be way worse than number 4. It's usually true that those who proclaim self greatness - have none.

[Romney4Prez]

11:47 PM on 01/16/2012

O thinks he's number four but most people think he's number two.....

[lw1]

12:07 AM on 01/17/2012

he didn't say it dukewad.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/obama-and-the-fourth-best-president-in-context/2011/03/04/gIQAyHGZ9O_blog.html

[Robert Grif]

01:36 AM on 01/17/2012

Whoa their buckaroo, the extremist is so far left that his budget was slammed dunked by the senate 98 to zip, said he was being bipartisan, really; and the Obama crowd ran everything for two years and gave us Obamacare instead of working on the economy; no budget whatsoever for those two years; what are you drinking some fermented dukwad , he needs to stop his reckless spending. And his taxing the rich at 100% (which I think with all the Obama rhetoric he’s spent 3 or 4 times over) will not create jobs next week, next month, or next year or anytime soon. How’s fast and furious working for you? Foreign policy – sell out Israel, sat out on Iran’s Arab spring; until now when they’ve become a much bigger problem than Bush had. Obama is articulate, yes – but full of double dribble on and off the court. And yes he stated words to the effect he’s 4th greatest, comparing himself to Johnson, FDR and Lincoln.

[browpeter]

08:19 PM on 01/16/2012

The way to celebrate a life as full as MLK's is everyone's personal choice.Seems like a number of posters on this thread would have preferred that our President join them at their local KKK rally and help light the cross and lynch the speaker. We have come a long way since MLK was killed, and we have a long way to go so that others are not killed in the same way.

[WRR01]

10:53 AM on 01/17/2012

What does the KKK have to do with this?

LSUtigers1

[luz123]

07:58 PM on 01/16/2012

so when does Obama work?

[muscle guy]

08:03 PM on 01/16/2012

never

[browpeter]

08:21 PM on 01/16/2012

Probably not on national holidaysn when he celebrates a greater life than yours.

[rrodrig843]

08:36 PM on 01/16/2012

Fanned and faved

[luz123]

07:58 PM on 01/16/2012

please... he and his ilk are so phony!

[johnblack53]

10:00 PM on 01/16/2012

His ilk? What about your tea party?

[Romney4Prez]

11:48 PM on 01/16/2012

What about your OWS? Real peaceful crowd.

[straight skinny]

07:47 PM on 01/16/2012

Happy Birthday to Reverend Martin Luther King! It is Amazing what Reverend King accomplished in his short 39 years in this world. What is more amazing is to see that a Major Part of his dream came to fruition in a relatively short 40 years after his death. It is a sad fact when one thinks that the Reverend Martin Luther King would have only been 83 years of age today had he lived. But he Did Live and he Accomplished Much!

If anyone should doubt that, they need only to look at the masses of people in the crowd honoring him, amongst which is the First African American President elected 40 years after his death. Along with President Obama is the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and their beautiful children-All honoring a Great Man! Anyone that doubts that we did not advance by Leaps and Bounds as Americans in a relatively short period of time, should think again. I sincerely believe that despite the criticisms thrown at President Obama in just 3 years in office, that he should be given the benefit of any doubts and reelected to finish the work he started. No President can fulfill all the promises made in such a short period of time. Not in this day and age, and certainly not in the present situation the country is in now. I sincerely believe that President Obama should be reelected in November to finish the job which he started!

[luz123]

08:05 PM on 01/16/2012

Obama is not african american, he's a half white american

[Elaine Douglas]

08:20 PM on 01/16/2012

luz123 - quick question - 10 years ago...if you and your boys saw Barack Obama walking down th street, would you yell: hey, look at that half white american! or would you all yell, hey, look at that NIGGE---! Thank you. The man identifies as a black man. He knows his heritage. But, 1 drop is all it takes. :)

[straight skinny]

08:37 PM on 01/16/2012

This is the problem in our country now. A remark such as yours. President Obama's Father was from Africa and therefore he is a descendant of African heritage. As in many cases similar to President Obama's, it is up to the individual to state which race he identifies with more. Given the fact that his wife, Michelle Obama, who also has African heritage along with her family, and much of President Obama's family as an adult, including his children, certainly speaks to the fact that he is indeed "African American". The fact that a mixed marriage took place between his Father, an African, and his Mother, a Caucasian or White has absolutely Nothing to do with the fact that Barack Obama is in fact an African American, who just happens to be the President of the United States! I wonder if that bothers you more than anything else? I think it does.

[yalantrt]

08:11 PM on 01/16/2012

African-American is a heritage, not a race. Dr. King made his stand for Negros in America

[straight skinny]

09:07 PM on 01/16/2012

Yes, this is true. It is also true that many African Americans today like Thomas Jefferson's descendants are of mixed race. However, they are still African Americans, and prefer to be referred to as such. We can get into the semantics of names and descriptions and what have you forever I suppose, but most people who read my posts on this subject, I would think know exactly where I am coming from. At least I would hope so.

[WRR01]

08:31 PM on 01/17/2012

So, basically he was a racist, if he only thought about Negros,

[hollyann1963]

07:38 PM on 01/16/2012

You would think religion would make people care more about each other. And yet instead it divides us more passionately than anything else in the world.

[TheBlueCoyote]

11:47 PM on 01/16/2012

Imagine no religion. It's easy if you try.

[99think99]

01:30 AM on 01/17/2012

Nice reference!