NORTHAMPTON — In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., activist and musician Katryna Nields spread the message of the power of change and peace to a crowd of young children and their parents on Sunday.
“What I love most about what Martin Luther King taught us is that all of us have the power to make a difference. All of us have the power to make the world a better place,” Nields said to the crowd at the Lander-Grinspoon Academy’s PJ Pals, a monthly event for children ages 3-5.
Nields, of Conway, told the children they can help make a difference, too — for example, by helping out when a friend falls down at the playground.
She started with “This Little Light of Mine,” a song many sang during the civil rights movement, Nields said. She told the crowd the “light” isn’t like a lamp or a candle, but something inside a person, like a smile.
“Where do you want to let your light shine?” Nields asked the crowd.
“In Puerto Rico,” one child shouted out.
Another song contained the lyrics “peace like the river,” “love like the ocean,” “mystery like the wind” and “courage like a bird.”
“One of the things Dr. King taught is to fight for what you believe in without any fighting,” Nields said.
He fought with peace, she said. One of his tools was music, she said as she started the song “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”
Amy Meltzer, the school’s director of family engagement, projected the children’s book “We March” onto a screen and read the book aloud.
Because the topic of the civil rights era and segregation is complicated for 3-to-5-year-olds, Meltzer said they’ve focused the event on teaching the values of kindness and fairness.
After the music, kids played with things like hula-hoops, balls and art supplies. Five-year-old Nessa Fine colored in the letters that spelled out “LOVE.”
Reina Warner, 7, attended the event to perform what she called “The Freedom Song” with her peers.
“Martin Luther King stood up for his rights and beliefs,” Reina said. “He just used words to fight.”
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.