At Spokane’s Garland Theater last week, a near capacity audience watched the documentary “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” which took a critical look at black rappers who denigrate women and idealize violence. Afterward, a panel of community members was asked to discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. might view hip-hop – the rap music-breakdancing-graffiti art phenomenon that has spread worldwide.

Spokane educator Ivan Bush, who has been involved in civil rights and diversity issues for decades, took the microphone. For the past hour, the audience had been subjected to foul language used in the documentary, but Bush apologized in advance for a word he was about to use.

Bush said, “The question was asked: ‘Is this the dream Dr. King envisioned?’ Hell no.”

Bush was the oldest panel member, but his opening remarks ignited the room. And while photos and drawings of King flashed on a movie screen, more than 400 young people listened to the discussion about racism, sexism, popular culture, the music industry and the civil rights movement that took place before they were born.

It felt electric. Young people community planned the ambitious event, and then they made it happen in a big way. Congratulations to all involved.

King’s history and legacy must be passed on to others by the younger folks because the dedicated people who keep King’s memory alive are growing older. This year, some significant torch-passing happened at the Garland. One of the event’s main organizers, Kitara McClure, 29, said, “I want to kindle the conversation in the community about Martin Luther King. He didn’t have a lot of bling. He had a microphone – and a heart.”

Panelists pointed out that some rappers carry forth King’s legacy in their lyrics. They sing about freedom, equality and love. But Jackie Brown, a radio personality with KXLY’s 96. 9 FM, explained that positive rappers don’t get a lot of radio requests, and their music doesn’t sell well. So the bling goes to the hip-hop artists who exude “hyper aggression” and express power through material possessions and gunplay. Not messages with which the nonviolent King would agree. Bush looked around the crowded theater, feeling both awe and gratitude. He said, “Very seldom do we have the opportunity as a community, young and old, black and white, various genders, to sit down and have a genuine conversation.”

Genuine conversations about race, sexism, equality – and how they play out in popular culture. Is this what King envisioned? Yes, definitely.