Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Come celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Lexington’s traditional march and program, Sunday, January 16^th, 1:30-4:00pm.

2011 marks the 25^th anniversary of the federal holiday, and Lexington’s CommUNITY will continue the Town’s commemoration of the Civil Rights leader for the 18^th year. Events begin at 1:30 pm with the traditional Unity Walk from the Lexington Battle Green to Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue.  The indoor program will begin promptly at 2:00 pm.  Participants are invited to join the walk and/or attend the program at Cary Hall, which is wheelchair accessible and will be open starting at 1:30pm.  Admission is free and all are welcome.

This year’s celebration will feature the film, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North. This documentary chronicles a unique and disturbing journey into the history and legacy of the U.S. slave trade, and follows the Rhode Island-based DeWolf family as it recently grappled with its history as the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. The film is a probing essay into divergent versions of a nation’s history and offers powerful new perspectives on the black/white divide and will provide an excellent springboard for dialogue around how the legacy of slavery influences the lives of Americans of all backgrounds and generations today.

The Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association, several Town religious and non-profit organizations will join with CommUNITY in conversations related to this film later this winter through the spring, including a “Town Meeting” hosted by Rep. Jay Kaufman. For more information: http://lexingtoncommunity.typepad.com/lexington-community/2011/01/index.html

Join us for a thought-provoking event on January 16^th. Questions? Pls. contact Larry Link at albertlink@verizon.net or Jill Smilow at jillsvoice@yahoo.com.