It has been 40 years since the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in the US, and Dr. King’s messages of peace, non-judgment, and justice still resonate today. Throughout Lincoln Square, there are several events honoring MLK’s legacy through readings, discussions, music, and more.
On Sunday, January 18, at 11:00am, New York Society for Ethical Culture (2 West 64th Street) is hosting a dramatic reading of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Actor C.K. Allen’s reading of the letter will be followed by a musical performance by Irwin Reese, a 23-year veteran of the New York Metropolitan Opera chorus. Details for the event, which is free and also available via Zoom, can be found here. The community lunch after the event is free for first-time guests. New York Society for Ethical Culture is also having an MLK Day Celebration on Monday, January 19. The program runs from 12:00pm to 6:00pm and brings together music, storytelling, dance, and participatory workshops that invite all ages to imagine more just futures. There is a $10 suggested donation to register, as well as options to donate up to $50 or attend for free. On MLK Day and the Saturday before the holiday, there are opportunities to give back by volunteering with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. A full list of service events happening at parks across the city can be found here.
On the day after MLK Day, Lincoln Center is hosting a free panel discussion in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic entitled Vision: Facing the American Dream, covering the themes of hope, discovery, and colonization of American lands. While the panelists have yet to be announced, the event will be moderated by Juilliard faculty member Fredara Hadley. The discussion will take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium (1887 Broadway) on Tuesday, January 20, at 7:00pm. The Juilliard School (155 West 65th Street) is also marking the holiday with its 13th annual MLK Speaker Series on Thursday, January 22, at 6:00pm. This year, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, President Emerita of Spelman College and former Dean of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, will discuss how we collectively envision and realize our own beloved communities through the power of art and artists. Tickets are free and can be reserved here.
In addition to these events, a monumental sculpture dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. resides just steps outside of the Lincoln Square district on the southwest corner of Amsterdam and West 66th Street, in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus. The massive steel cube, 30 feet on each side, is covered with quotes, dates, and messages related to Dr. King’s life. Click here to read West Side Rag’s in-depth decoding of the sculpture, which serves as a constant reminder of MLK’s legacy.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Unknown – AFP)
