Wolves Bring MLK to Cookie Cart

"Everywhere in Martin's hometown, he saw the signs, WHITE ONLY. His mother said these signs were in all Southern cities and towns in the United States. Every time Martin read the words, he felt bad, until he remembered what his mother told him: 'You are as good as anyone.'"
- Excerpt from "Martin's Big Words"

Wednesday afternoon at the Cookie Cart in North Minneapolis, Wolves players Greg Buckner and Michael Doleac read those words at a Reading Time Out with elementary students from Bethune Community School.

With Wolves radio broadcaster Alan Horton running the show and CEO Rob Moor looking on, the Wolves FastBreak Foundation continued to celebrate Black History Month, as presented by American Family Insurance and KSTC Channel 45.

"I love coming to these events," said Moor. "Anything with children is always very rewarding, to see our players interact with the young folks."

"I think anytime we get the opportunity to spend time with or speak to kids, it's very important," added Buckner. "They really look up to us and listen to us, and sometimes they get tired of listening to their mom, dad and teachers, and have a new face to tell them something that's wise really goes a long way."

After students arrived at the Cookie Cart, they were gathered in front of the players to hear Buckner and Doleac's rendition of "Martin's Big Words," an inspirational book based on King Jr.'s life.

"It's a very inspiring message from Martin Luther King, Jr.," said Moor. "I wish my son was here today, because it is extremely important to understand how important the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King, Jr. were and are to our country."

And when the kids are hearing the words from athletes to whom the look up (literally and figuratively), it might strike home more easily.

"It's great to see the players be so at ease with these kids, and to see the kids gravitate to them as if Greg and Michael were magnets," said Horton. "So when they read the book, the message gets across."

Among the messages in the book was King's demand of love instead of hate, together instead of separate, and peace instead of war. The players also took the kids through the cold December day in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white man and was arrested, which sparked a 381-day bus boycott by most of Montgomery's black citizens.

The book detailed King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, talked about his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and went over his assassination in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee when he was marching to help garbage workers who were on strike.

"He meant a lot in everybody's lives in the United States," said Buckner. "He's one of the faces that changed the way people think about black people. It's very important that we can open our eyes and realize how important equality is in this nation."

After the reading of the book, Horton led the kids through a Q&A session and awarded prizes for correct answers. Subsequently, Bethune Community School's kids had a chance to decorate cookies with Buckner, Doleac and Horton.

One group's cookie featured a big green No. 7, not coincidentally Buckner's number.

"I definitely was pulling for it to (to win the contest)," said Buckner. "They came up with the idea to make the No. 7 cookie, but the other one was too good."

Each kid also received their own backpack, tickets to a future Wolves game, bookmarks, posters and more. While many earned t-shirts, Read To Achieve blankets and pillows, and Wolves Yearbooks.

Judging from the smiles all around the room, the event was a big success. Buckner, for one, just hoped the kids got as much out of it as he did.

"My biggest thing is always giving back, and I hope that one day when they grow up they'll be able to do the same thing, whether it's money, time or education to give back to the next generation," he concluded.