The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) will be hosting its tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. next month.
Now in its 38th year, the annual gathering is the largest of its kind in New York City, where artists, activists, civic leaders, and the community will come together to celebrate Dr. King on what would have been his 95th birthday.
"This event stands as a testament to Dr. King’s indelible impact on our community and his enduring legacy of advocating for equality, justice, and social transformation," said Coco Killingsworth, BAM’s chief experience and impact officer, in a news release.
"It serves as a powerful reminder of the work that remains and inspires us to continue striving towards a more just and equitable society, no matter how long the road ahead may appear. Dr. King's teachings resonate universally, guiding us toward a future where compassion, understanding, and ultimately justice prevail.”
This year's keynote speaker is poet, lawyer, and Freedom Reads founder Reginald Dwayne Betts.
“Through his legal and literary work, Betts has dedicated himself to exploring incarceration in America and empowering individuals through literature,” BAM described in a news release.
“As the founder of Freedom Reads, Betts aims to inspire incarcerated individuals with the power of literature, drawing from his own transformative experience while imprisoned as a young man.”
There will also be musical performances by singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin and the award-winning choir Sing Harlem, led by Amaya Knoelle Higginson.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso will serve as the master of ceremonies.
The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 15 in the Howard Gilman Opera House (Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave.).
It's free with tickets distributed on a first-come, first-seated basis starting at 8 a.m. in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby.
Those who can’t make it in-person can watch a live stream via BAM.org.
