The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Foundation’s virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast carried a vibrant message to those attending via Zoom on Monday, January 16.

The highlight of the morning was “Learning to Live Together,” a talk given by U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, the first Black American woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

“It’s important for us to understand that we can disagree and we will disagree, but we need to know how to respectfully disagree; and to really hear each other, in order to learn from each other,” said Avery, in part.

Now in its 38th year, the annual breakfast celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. by keeping his message of compassion, understanding and hope alive. Since 2020, the event has been offered virtually. Once again, attendees represented a shoreline/New Haven County area audience well beyond the foundation’s Branford base.

A follow-up question and answer period moderated by News 8's anchor Keith Kountz brought questions from the audience to which Avery responded.

Asked if she had experienced a lot of racism in her career, and if so, how she dealt with it effectively, Avery responded, “...that’s an interesting question. I would not describe myself as having experienced a lot of racism; but are there things that happened that have made me uncomfortable, or that have not been positive in my career going forward, sure. There are things that happen all the time.”

“When you are someonewho looks different, who comes from a different background, different understanding, brings a different approach to the table, regardless of whether you are Black, or Brown, or Asian or any other background, people are going to look at you a little differently,” she continued.

“When you feel like you are an outsider in a situation, or other people perceive of you as such, there’s going to be some discomfort there. I think the lesson that I have learned [is] just getting comfortable with that discomfort. In order to succeed in a career where there are people...if you’re a woman, and it’s a male-dominated career, you have to accept that their first, initial reaction is going to be, ‘What is she doing here?’ You have to be able to accept that and not internalize it as maybe a negative thing. [And] then once you show them [that] you can do the work [in] the same way someone who doesn’t look like you can; I think people will respect that.”

Attendees were treated to live musical performances by St. Stephens AME Zion Church of Branford and the Branford High School (BHS) MusicMakers, directed by Michael Martone.

Closing remarks and prayer were made by Rev. Dr. Leroy Perry, Pastor at St. Stephens AME Zion Church in Branford, where the breakfast began 38 years ago.

“When I come to this particular holiday, it always brings up some deep emotions and some deep memories,” said Perry. “I’m reminded of Mark Anthony when he eulogized Caesar. He said, ‘My heart is in the coffin with him, and I pause until it comes back to me.’”

“I think in America for many of us, our hearts are in the coffin with the King, and we pause until it comes back to us. And I don’t think it will come back to us until there’s dignity, equality and freedom for all. Even from that coffin this morning, I can still hear his last words that he recorded that night he preached his last sermon [when] he said, ‘I’ve been to the mountain top, and I’ve seen the promised land.’ But he gave us some encouraging words when he said, ‘Walk together children, and don’t get weary. There’s a great camp meeting in the promised land.’”

Perry said this pause is a time to appreciate Dr. King, to acknowledge him and to “keep the dream alive.”

“I’m a dream keeper, I’m a dream believer; and I just know that things are going to change,” said Perry.

In thanking and acknowledging Avery, he said, “...I’m hoping that because there’s the dream keepers, that your work will be easier, and your load will be lighter.”

Ahead of giving a blessing with his closing prayer, Perry said, “Let me just say this: Dr. King, on his last night, said, ‘I’m happy tonight.’ That’s an amazing and powerful sentiment. Death around the corner, and he says, ‘I’m happy tonight.’ And I’m saying to you, ‘I’m happy today. I’m happy for this service.’”

Hosted by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Foundation, the breakfast has been offered virtually for the past 3 years and was last held in-person in 2019 in the BHS commons. Once again, attendees represented a shoreline/New Haven County area audience well beyond the foundation’s Branford base.

Proceeds from the event provide scholarships for Black, Brown and Indigenous high school graduates, and current college students in need. The Foundation also supports organizations that help the community, including Branford Counseling and Community Services, the Community Dining Room, Feed Branford Kids, and the Energy Assistance Program.