How To Celebrate Martin Luther King Day In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — New York City's largest public tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will look a bit different this year, but there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday next week.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music's Annual Brooklyn Tribute To Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in its 35th year, will head online, along with several other virtual celebrations hosted by the organization. BAM's plans also include a real-life art installation on its screen near Flatbush and Lafayette avenues.

There are also several other neighborhood events planned throughout the borough hosted by other institutions. Those are included below as well.

Here's a look at how to enjoy all of the events:

Visual art: Let Freedom Ring

• Curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah
• Art by Derrick Adams, Alvin Armstrong, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Lizania Cruz, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Hank Willis Thomas, & Jasmine Wahi
• January 15—21, 2021
• The BAM sign screen (corner of Flatbush Ave & Lafayette Ave)

"Harnessing the scale of BAM’s outdoor digital signpost as a vehicle for public art, Let Freedom Ring is a provocative exploration of the notion of freedom and Dr. King’s legacy. The public art installation features the work of Brooklyn-based creatives who are deeply engaged in an ongoing dialogue about the role of artists, art, social justice, equity, and inclusion. Spearheaded by BAM Curator-at-Large Larry Ossei-Mensah, the project connects the Brooklyn community with larger cultural dialogues around freedom. Timed to coincide with the nation’s annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the historic 2021 Presidential and Vice-Presidential inauguration, the acclaimed artists invite the viewer to engage critically with the work and reflect on what freedom truly means in 2021. The project is an extension of the Freedom 2020 Awakening Campaign, Visit BAM.org for more information."

The 35th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Alicia Garza, PJ Morton, Tarriona "Tank" Ball, Sing Harlem!, Timothy DuWhite, Ashley August, & more
• Presented by BAM and The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, in association with BRIC TV,
• Monday, January 18, 2021 at 11 a.m. EST
• Virtual - RSVPs are strongly encouraged, at BAM.org; Following the stream, the event will be available on BAM’s YouTube and Vimeo through February 28, 2021.

"The Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., brings together artists, activists, civic leaders, and the public for a communal commemoration and reflection on the life and legacy of Dr. King, Jr. Audience members around the world are invited to join BAM for the virtual edition of New York City’s largest public celebration of Dr. King’s legacy featuring a keynote speech by Alicia Garza, author of The Purpose of Power, principal at Black Futures Lab, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, performances by Grammy Award-winning gospel and R&B artist and Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton, Tank and the Bangas lead vocalist Tarriona "Tank" Ball, Vy Higgensen's award-winning choir Sing Harlem!, Brooklyn-based poet and 2020-2021 BAM Artist Resident Timothy DuWhite, spoken word artist Ashley August, and presentations by leading artists, civic leaders, and changemakers. The 2021 event draws inspiration from Dr. King’s words, his life, and the actions of those around the nation who continue the fight for equality and justice."


Film: Nationtime (1972), directed by William Greaves

• Special introduction by Rukia Lumumba
• Monday, January 18, 2021
• Virtual - RSVPs are mandatory, at BAM.org
• Tickets are limited

"Best known for his avant-garde meta-documentary Symbiopsychotaxiplasm, William Greaves (1926—2014) was also the director of over 100 documentary films, the majority focused on African American history, politics, and culture. Nationtime is a report on the National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Indiana, in 1972, a historic event that gathered black voices from across the political spectrum, among them Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory, Coretta Scott King, Richard Hatcher, Amiri Baraka, Charles Diggs, and H. Carl McCall. Narrated by Sidney Poitier, the film was considered too militant for television broadcast at the time and has since circulated only in an edited 60-minute version. This new 4K restoration from IndieCollect, with funding from Jane Fonda and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, returns the film to its original length and visual quality. Courtesy of Kino Lorber. (80min)"


Education: Drop the Mic: Dream, Speak, Act

• Friday, January 22, 2021 at 4pm EST
• Virtual - RSVPs are mandatory, at BAM.org

"A special screening, for teens, of the 35th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This virtual watch party is followed by an open space discussion facilitated by BAM staff. As we conclude a year where young people were at the forefront of global calls for justice and equality, youth reflections on the fight for civil rights—both historically and today—are a critical part of determining the road ahead. Visit BAM.org for more information."

MLK "If I Can Help Somebody" Community Day in Bed-Stuy

• Sunday, January 17; 2 to 5 p.m.
• 1585 Fulton St.
• Join this outdoor gathering to celebrate the spirit of the community with FREE giveaways and entertainment.

• Monday, Jan. 18
• Interactive activities exploring peace, empathy, and togetherness. Expect story-time, arts and crafts, and shadow puppet demos. Pre-registration is required.