January 1, 1959, Rev. King visited the Davis Ave. area. He spoke at the "Emancipation" program which was held at the ILA Auditorium at 505 Davis Ave. He spoke about ... First, to rise up to a "broader concern for all humanity,"... Second, "to achieve excellence in various fields of endeavor"... Third, to enter the new age with an understanding of good will in our hearts. "If you retaliate with bitterness, our new age will become the duplicate of the old age." Rev. King's message of love brought encouragement to the thousands who were in attendance. 

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Paulette Horton, Avenue: The Davis Avenue Story, The People, The Place, The Memories, (Horton, Inc., Mobile), 1991.