Spider Jones on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy in East York

On Jan. 19 Charles 'Spider' Jones spoke to residents of the St. Clair O'Connor Community in East York about Martin Luther King Jr., opening with a screening of the 'I Have a Dream' speech and sharing personal memories and historical details.

On Jan. 19 Charles 'Spider' Jones spoke to residents of the St. Clair O'Connor Community in East York to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He opened the presentation with a screening of King's 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech and discussed aspects of King's life and the events that led to his 1968 assassination. Jones said King was one of his biggest inspirations and shared personal reflections alongside historical context. Jones is a longtime journalist, former radio host and youth advocate who continues community work at age 79. Key points: - The presentation took place at the St. Clair O'Connor Community in East York on Jan. 19 and began with the "I Have a Dream" speech screening. - Jones noted that gospel singer Mahalia Jackson urged King to "tell them about the dream," which influenced his improvised phrasing, and he highlighted King's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize at age 35. - Jones spoke about his own broadcasting career, including hosting talk radio on Toronto's CFRB 1010 and mentoring other hosts. - He described his background in boxing, his induction into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, and his continued youth outreach through the 'Believe to Achieve' non-profit. - Jones has received honours such as the Order of Ontario in 2020 and the Harry Jerome Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Summary: The event honoured Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights work and combined archival footage with Jones's personal memories and professional perspective. The presentation linked King's history with Jones's long-standing community and youth advocacy. Undetermined at this time.