NATCHEZ — With marching bands and floats, hundreds filled the streets on Monday, to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

But for many the usually festive event took on a special air of importance in light of Barack Obama’s inauguration today.

Standing on the corner of Franklin and Martin Luther King Jr. streets Takesha Jenkins, 18, watched the parade roll past.

Jenkins said Monday’s parade was important because it fell only one day before the inauguration of the country’s first black president.

“I think it represents a change for everyone,” she said of the parade and the inauguration. “It shows you change really can happen.”

And while the parade was held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., so many people at the parade were sporting Obama shirts and hats, an unknowing spectator might have thought the event was meant to honor Obama instead of King.

Samuel Taylor brought his entire family to the event to share in what he called a “historic moment.”

“(King) had a vision from God,” Taylor said. “Even though it was years ago, it’s coming to fruition. Little by little it’s happening.”

And just down the street Bertha Johnson, 72, was watching the tail end of the parade and preparing for a day she said she always knew would come.

“It’s going to be history,” she said of today’s inauguration. “It’s a change. And I always thought we’d have (a black president.)”

But Johnson’s not planning any special celebrations for today.

“I’ll just watch it on the TV,” she said.