Hailey Miller had the honor of reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech to a gymnasium full of people Monday afternoon.

“It’s an amazing speech,” said Miller, a seventh-grader at Helena Christian School. “Martin Luther King Jr. was such an amazing man, and without him African American people wouldn’t have the freedom they have today.”

Miller’s recitation of the famous speech was just one of the performances geared toward giving Helenans a taste of different cultures at the Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Fair at Bryant Elementary.

“It’s really important for kids to realize the importance of diversity and who Martin Luther King was,” said Heather Hass, and AmeriCorps Vista volunteer and organizer of the event, sponsored by Carroll College Student Activities. “I don’t think we talk about it enough anymore. What better way to promote diversity and talk about it than an event for kids?”

At one of the fair’s booths, Emma Templeton, who’s almost 6 years old, eagerly awaited as Kizuku Matsunaga, manager of Kumamoto Plaza, wrote her name in Japanese characters.

He presented her with a large piece of rice paper with her name spelled delicately with ink and a paint brush. Templeton plans to hang it on her bedroom wall near her bed.

Delighted children buzzed around the fair, making beaded necklaces and birthday cards for King.

Fairgoers experienced ethnic food and entertainment by the Tiernan Irish Dancers, Scottish drumming and American Indian dancing.

Parents were eager to get their youngsters involved.

Judy Bovington, a Helena mother of two, feels strongly about protecting all people from discrimination.

“It’s so important,” she said. “I especially feel that we need not discriminate against American Indians.”

Her children learn by imitation, Bovington said.

“I work really hard to teach them to treat everyone with respect,” she said.

Staci Friede, a fourth-grader at Smith Elementary, doesn’t think skin color is important.

“It just matters if they are nice,” Friede said. “I have a friend from India — she’s really nice and I’m glad to have her as a friend.”

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-74081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com