King Reenacted at Martin Luther King Jr. Library

Educator Saul E. Lankster reenacted excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous, and not so famous, speeches at the Los Angeles County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at 17906 South Avalon Blvd., Carson, California on February 4, 2009.

Performing for the visiting 4th and 5th grade classes from nearby Town Avenue Elementary School, Lankster talked to the 130 students about the "content of their character" as he reenacted excerpts of Dr. King's speeches.

"I have a dream, I've been to the mountain top, Excellence, and I'm tired of marching" are the four King speeches Lankster reenacted and connected during his interactive 50 minutes presentation.

Lankster shared his experience with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama with the young students and gave one student a large photo of him (Lankster) running across Selma's Edmund Pettis Bridge, the scene of Bloody Sunday.

This program featuring the veteran King Impersonator was part of the library's celebration of African American History Month, according to Library Director Frank Giammarino. The participating students were able to win CDs and other treats Lankster brought with him to award students for giving the correct answers to his questions.

At the beginning and end of the performance the 4th and 5th graders competed by repeating Lankster's poem "For once a task is begun, Never stop until it's done, No matter whether big or small, Do it right, or not at all." Lankster, a high school history teacher, adjunct university professor and former 3-term school board president, gave each student a copy of Dr. Martin Luther King's speech on Excellence and a copy of Chuck Swindoll's Attitude."

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