John Davenport | Contributor San Antonio’s black population is smaller than some other major Texas cities’, but the MLK march always draws a huge crowd.

African Americans comprise less than 7 percent of San Antonio's 1.2 million-plus population, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau numbers, which puts the Alamo City nearly 5 percent below the state average and 6 percent below the national average.

Nevertheless, that population discrepancy hasn't affected San Antonio's annual Martin Luther King Jr. March.

The march, slated for Monday, Jan. 21, is regarded as the largest in the nation, one that routinely draws more than 100,000 people.

“Because San Antonio is such a unique city and unlike any other large metropolitan area, it's never about race, and it's never about ethnicity,” said Gloria Ray, one of the organizers of the 3-mile march. “It's about building community ..... because San Antonio is a city where we embrace diversity, it's never about race.”

“If you've got something to celebrate,” Ray added, “we'll celebrate with you.”

The march, which begins at MLK Freedom Bridge and ends at Pittman-Sullivan Park, is not limited to the black community. Rather, Ray insists that San Antonio's small black population has plenty of help in making the Alamo City's MLK March the largest in the nation.

“The African American population (in San Antonio) is under 7 percent, so to draw a crowd that large, it stands to reason you have a very, very diverse crowd,” Ray said. “But it's not only all ethnicities that celebrate with us. We're very interfaith as well.”

Ray said the march's robust attendance also speaks to a progressive shift in America's collective ideology regarding race.

“We have made tremendous progress, and people have come to learn about and accept people from all different walks of life,” she said.

Just as Dr. King would have wanted.

“His dream was to build what he called the beloved community, where everybody in the community was treasured and loved and supported unconditionally,” Ray said. “That's what Martin was all about — building the beloved community. We are doing that in San Antonio ..... We are fulfilling Martin's dream.”

CLINT HALE | 210SA