By TBN Staff Writer
Bernice Albertine King, 43, the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., told a packed crowd in Statesboro tonight that America should be a people-centered society, not thing-centered.

Several hundred people gathered at the Performing Arts Center at Georgia Southern University tonight (January 16, 2007) for Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

King said poverty, racism and war that her father identified decades ago as the three evils continue to affect America in a profound way.

She called on the young to actively "engage in the conversation of the day." She lamented America was becoming a thing-centered society, rather than a people-centered society.

Before her speech, the organizers shared a power-point presentation with images of the Civil Rights movement as well as the audio of the famed "I have a dream" speech by the Civil Rights leader. Following that, GSU president Bruce Grube introduced King to the audience.

King said her late father operated from a spiritual level and did not allow himself to be bogged down into the material distractions of life. Above all, he fought for justice and equity for all, she said, irrespective of religion, social and economic status or race.

King said this was her first visit to Statesboro, as far as she could remember.

The event was sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and the Multicultural Student Center at GSU.

Following her 40-minute presentation, King signed copies of her recent book Hard Questions, Heart Answers to interested audience members.