NATCHEZ — Like most school children, Damira McGruder has had plenty of opportunity to draw inspiration from the life of slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

And while his later life and work is important, McGruder said it’s his early life that inspires her at the moment.

King was able to advance through school at a rate that allowed him to skip ninth and 12th grade, and he had a doctorate at age 25, she said.

“He proved to me that age isn’t anything but a number,” she said.

McGruder, 13, was the featured speaker at the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day luncheon.

The annual event is meant to honor King’s work and the freedom movement for which he has become the unquestionable symbol, but it also serves as a showcase for the community’s youth talent.  Monday’s event included singing, interpretive dance, poetry and oratory.

When she spoke, McGruder told those in the audience that no one should judge them by the color of their skin — including themselves.

“Acceptance of who you are is very important, so today I say to the world, ‘So what if I am a black woman?’” she said. “I am unashamed.”

No one should judge you for being black, bronze or brown, “and beautiful at the same time,” she said.

“I will earn my bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D,” McGruder said.

“They may say my dreams will never come true, but that will never stop me, because remember, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, too.”

Achieving the goal of a better world means not only knowing what you want, but being willing to unite with others, sacrifice when necessary and speak up when needed, she said.

“Dr. King explained that there comes a time to take a position that is neither safe nor popular,” McGruder said.

“Do not speak negatively, but speak with a purpose.”

In the end, making the world a better place is going to take the involvement of young people and adults who seek involvement in their communities and try to right division, she said.

“Be encouraged to action, because faith without works is dead, and it starts with true love,” McGruder said.

When Dantavious Demby spoke representing God’s Way Full Gospel Church of Vidalia at the luncheon, he said — despite the oft-cited speech — King’s ideas were more than a dream.

“He had a sight beyond sight in spite of his blight,” Demby said. “You see, vision is a gift of itself when there seems like nothing else is left. Thank God for a man with vision in a time where our whole world had division.”

King’s vision forced him to make difficult decisions, Demby said, decisions that required hope and the ability to see beyond the mountains of despair at what was then the present reality.

“As reality has set in, hatred has become as a lesser sin,” he said. “Yes, God had a plan for this man, as we (now) see our black and white brothers walk hand in hand.”

And for attendee Savana Mars, King’s message is not only one for the past, but for the future as well.

“Dr. King had a dream, and it is up for us to continue,” she said.