Knicks, Celebs Emphasize Message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As Knicks Vice President of Community Relations and Fan Development Karin Buchholz greeted the 25 fourth-graders for the "Promote The Quote" celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, "we'll have a couple of players as our special guests, the Junk Yard Dog and Jamal," she said. One little hand went up in the air: "Really? He's going to be here? Jamal Marbury?"

"I really knew it was Jamal Williams," P.S 197's Stephanie Ryne explained later. "I was just nervous."

Needless to say, even though Jamal Crawford is in eternal peril of being called Jamal Marbury (or Williams) for the rest of his days, he still felt it was very important to be present at the occasion. "Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. had a dream," he told the kids. "And that dream was that the world, and all the different people in it, can live and work together peacefully. He gave his life for this dream. And it is because of his legacy that we can be here."

"So his dream still lives with us today."

Special guest L.L Cool J. carried that message even further. "You can control your dreams," he told the entranced audience. "And once you do that, you can do something about the things you're dreaming about. You can become a doctor, a lawyer, a rapper, a professor, a basketball player." L.L. patted each little head as he counted down all the possible dreams. "I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Dr. King once said 'you don't need to see the whole staircase in order to take the first step.' So his message is: Dream. Believe. Then take action to bring those dreams and beliefs to life."

"It's all about believing in yourself," added the ebullient, yet at the same time very serious, Jerome Williams. JYD, who exudes the joy of life in whatever he does, had the kids enraptured, simply in the palm of his hands. "And it all starts NOW. Then, to dreaming and believing in yourself you have to add the Three Dog "D"-s: Dedication. Determination. And discipline. With those you can accomplish anything. That last one, discipline, is the toughest -- that's the one your parents and teachers talk to you about all the time. But those are the things that Dr. King had: he said 'it's time things are changed -- and I will be the person to make that change so that everyone in this world, no matter what race or color, will have justice and equality. That is the legacy he's left to all of us."

"But it's up to you -- each and every one of you -- what you do with the freedoms and rights that legacy has created for us. So make the most of them. Don't take them for granted. It's up to every generation to continue to make things better and better."

"I truly believe that Dr. King is one of the greatest figures in world history," Ms. Linda Dunham, the owner of this, and five other, McDonald's around New York and New Jersey said. Thirty three years ago Ms. Dunham also owned the very first McDonald's ever built in the city, the one still thriving on West 125th Street. "And that's because Dr. King lived his beliefs every day. Many years ago I was a banker and my husband was a police officer. But, because we had a dream to develop Harlem, we bought a McDonald's -- and it meant around the clock work and dedication. We've owned 25 restaurants over the years. But our dream could not have become reality without Dr. King and what he's done for the people of the world."

"We are here as a direct result of everything he believed in and fought for."

Special guest, and Tony Award winning performer, Melba Moore then gave a rousing rendition of the African-American National Anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing". "We as Americans are so fortunate, we have two anthems," she said. Then the kids and celebrities read David A. Adler's book on Martin Luther King's life together out loud, taking turns page by page. "This book makes you think about what made Dr. King become who he was," P.S. 128's adorable Tiara Cardona explained.

To conclude the amazing afternoon on a high note, the kids and celebrities then broke into five groups in order to create a presentation on Dr. King and his life. "Dr. King's legacy is that now I can live out my dream," Tiara's best friend Amber Tillies proudly acclaimed. "I can shop anywhere I want! I can own a business! I can even play in the WNBA!"

Schoolmate Dwight Lopez' dream was "to become a professor. Or play basketball." "I got it!" he said, the idea taking hold of him all of a sudden. "Maybe I can do both! I will be a professor of basketball!"