A Calvert County tradition, the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, was held Monday morning, Jan. 16 at the Rod ‘N’ Reel in Chesapeake Beach. The 2012 event was jointly sponsored by the National Congress of Black Women, the Calvert County Concerned Black Women, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Well-received musical selections were performed by local middle school students Andre Jones and Unique Keemer.

The event’s guest speaker was Carl O. Snowden, who served three terms on the Annapolis City Council. During his time on the council Snowden often drew praise for his budgetary acumen. He is currently serving as the director for Civil Rights in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. Snowden has long been involved in the struggle for civil rights.

“I am here to wake you up, not put you to sleep,” said Snowden, who recounted a sad tale of segregation from his own childhood and shared stories about the American Civil Rights Movement.

“Racism is not funny,” said Snowden. “It has a tremendous impact on people. Martin Luther King and countless foot soldiers made America better.”

Snowden recalled the 1955 Montgomery [Alabama] Bus Boycott, which King organized and Rosa Parks sparked with a simple act of civil disobedience—refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. King’s mantra during the boycott was “it is better we walk in dignity than ride in shame,” Snowden stated.

In reminding the audience that the struggle continues, Snowden indicated the most important thing for people to do is vote. “How dare people say there is nothing to vote for,” he said. Snowden noted that Maryland’s Primary Election is April 3, which is the 44th anniversary of King’s last public speech. King was assassinated in Memphis the following day. Snowden recalled in his final speech King warned of “dark and difficult days ahead” in the struggle for Civil Rights.

“He [King] gave us opportunities we could only dream about,” said Snowden.

The guest speaker drew applause from the audience when he stated, “I believe it is not the responsibility of government to raise ou