— By Cathy Spaulding

Phoenix Staff Writer



Sue Courtwright said she wanted to see one thing when she brought her daughter and granddaughter from Checotah to see Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Day Parade.

“We came to the parade to see what kind of togetherness and unity is going to be here,” Courtwright said as the family set up folding chairs. “This is the reason for the parade.”

Unity showed itself in various ways as church groups, civic organizations and political candidates paraded along Martin Luther King Street. The theme of the parade came from one of the civil rights leader’s quotes: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

The parade featured African-American and Caucasian grand marshals — the Rev. Larry Smith, the pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church; and state Sen. Earl Garrison, a former school superintendent.

Drum sounds filled the parade route as percussionists from the Muskogee High School Band, clad in white and Rougher green, marched with Hilldale percussionists in red and black uniforms.

Cars and trucks of all ages, makes and styles showed off their chrome glory. The vehicles later competed in a car show.

Scores of those who lined the parade route also showed diversity and unity.

Courtwright, who is of Cherokee lineage, said she moved to Oklahoma five years ago after living in Alaska for 30 years. She said this is the first time she came to an MLK parade, and she wanted to see how well people showed their unity.

Courtwright’s daughter, Sammi McLemore, said she was born in Alaska and that her daughter, Junya Nicketa-McLemore, 2, has an Eskimo father.

The Courtwrights sat by a Caucasian family, who sat by an African-American family.

Rose McDonald joined her two sisters and brought her daughter, Emma Giles, 6.

“This is the first time she’s been to the parade,” McDonald said. “She said she had just learned something about Martin Luther King. They had been teaching her a lot about him in school.”

“I learned he had a dream that everyone should get along,” said Emma, who attends Ben Franklin Science Academy.

This also was the first parade for the Ingram sisters, Tulaya, 4, and Makayla, 3, said their mother, Tempestt Ingram.

Ingram said she wanted to show her daughters how people of different races should get along.

“I want to show them how we should stop the violence,” Ingram said. “We’re all made equally, and we should all get along.”

One reason for this year’s theme has been the violence and rash of deadly shootings in late 2011, parade officials said.

Smith said people must vow “to work together to end the violence in the city.”

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com.

Car show results

• Best of Show: Floyd and Beverly Williams, 1966 aqua blue Impala SS.

1. Johnny Bybee, 1965 black Ford Ranchero.

2. Jason Terrell, 2005 silver Corvette.

3. George Collins, 2005 black-on-black Mustang convertible.