
Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C. We honor the great civil rights leader with an annual holiday on Monday, Jan. 16, when Americans are encouraged to volunteer and give back to the community. UPI.
Many of the King Day events are centered in the King Historic District in the Auburn Avenue area, including Monday morning’s annual commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church and the march and rally on Auburn Avenue Monday afternoon. The yearly “Salute to Greatness” is a highlight, too, but this King Center fundraiser starts at $250 a ticket. The majority of the events are free, and they’re a happening all over the metro Atlanta area. Below is just a sampling of the events surrounding the King holiday. Check the King Center’s website and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site’s online home for more. For volunteer opportunities, head over to Hands On Atlanta’s MLK Day page.
“From King to Obama – DuBois and Back Again: Reflections on Race, Nation and African American Internationalism.” An art exhibition by J.R. Phillips focusing on the artistic interactions between the African Diaspora and mainland China in the 20th and 21st centuries. Through March 31. Free. Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, 101 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-730-4001.
Atlanta Technical College MLK Birthday Celebration. Keynote speech by Judy Forte, Superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. 11 a.m. Jan. 12. Free. Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway S.W., Atlanta. 404-225-4400.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: A King Celebration Concert 20th Anniversary. With cellist Yo-Yo Ma. 8 p.m. Jan. 12. $55-$125. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000.
“Salute to Greatness” Awards Dinner. The King Center’s primary fundraising initiative and one of the Center’s highest honors. The awards recognize national and/or international individuals and corporations that exemplify excellence in their leadership and have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility in the spirit of King. 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14. Individual tickets $250; tables $3500 and $5000. Hyatt Regency, 265 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404- 526-8974.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Presented by Thankful Baptist Church. 5 p.m. Jan. 14. Free. Kennesaw Mountain High School, 1898 Kennesaw Due West Road N.W., Kennesaw. 678-797-0611.
“A King Celebration Musical: A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” 5 p.m. Jan. 15. Free. New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church, 923 Valley Brook Road, Decatur. 404-508-1400.
“A Balm in Gilead.” Combines music, dance and storytelling in order to reconstruct the two turbulent months that transformed the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968, which became the setting of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. 5 p.m. Jan. 15. Free; donations accepted. Wheat Street Baptist Church, 359 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-659-4328.
Multi-faith Worship Service and Candlelight Vigil In Honor Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme is community service and participants will have an opportunity to converse with members of other faiths. 6 p.m. Jan. 15. Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive S.W., Atlanta. 404-215-2608.
Emory Celebrates King Week. Emory University’s annual celebration of the life, work and interests of Martin Luther King Jr. features a range of service, education, entertainment and memorial activities. All events are free and open to the public. It kicks off on Jan. 15 with a conversation and performance featuring poet Eugene B. Redmond as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of Drumvoices Review. MLK Day (Jan. 16) is a day of service known as “Emory’s Day On.” On Jan. 17, Melissa Harris-Perry, professor of political science at Tulane University and MSNBC contributor, will deliver the keynote speech, “King’s Legacy and the New Civil Rights Frontiers” in Cannon Chapel. The popular jazz vesper service featuring Dwight Andrews and the Atlanta Jazz Chorus is 7 p.m. Jan. 19 in Cannon Chapel. Visit the official King Week at Emory website for a full list of the school’s King Week activities.
Nikki Giovanni. The poet will speak at 2 p.m. Jan. 16, followed by a book signing, as part of Kennesaw State University’s annual MLK Day event. Free. Bailey Performance Center, 1000 Chastain Road N.W, Kennesaw. 770-423-6650.
Sandy Springs King Holiday Celebration. Event will feature music, a keynote address by Georgia Supreme Court Justice Harold D. Melton and presentation of the 2012 Humanitarian Award. 10 a.m. Jan. 16. Free. City Hall, 7840 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.
MLK Day of Service 2012. 9 a.m. Jan. 16. Clarkston Community Center, 3701 College Ave., Clarkston. 404-501-0107.
Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemorative Service. Keynote speaker is Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Senior Pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. 10 a.m. Jan. 16. Open to the public (seating is limited). Ebenezer Baptist Church, 407 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-526-8911.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Celebration. 10:30 a.m. Jan. 16. Included with Museum admission ($12.75). Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-5437.
King Holiday March and Rally. The march is held on Auburn Avenue from Peachtree Street to Jackson Street. The rally is held on Auburn Avenue in the King National Park Area. The areas of concern are education, technology, medical, investment, transportation, housing environmental justice, job creation, conflict resolution, interfaith, cultural exchange, peace, justice and voter registration. 1:15 p.m. Jan. 16. Sweet Auburn District, Auburn Ave N.E., Atlanta. 404-614-3233.
Cobb County’s 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The holiday event is free and open to the public. The event, titled “The Dream, the Life, the Legacy,” is sponsored by Cobb County NAACP. 10 a.m. Jan. 16. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. 770-425-5757.
King Sunday Worship Service. 11 a.m. Jan. 16. Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive S.W., Atlanta. 404-681-2800.
“Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness.” The Alliance Theatre presents two free readings of an original script by Atlanta author and playwright Pearl Cleage in collaboration with students in its high school Collision Project. Inspired by the Declaration of Independence, “Life, Liberty” uses the voices of teens to question issues of citizenship and diversity. Presented in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League. 1 and 3 p.m. Jan. 16. Free. Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium, 1280 Peachtree St N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4749.
DeKalb NAACP’s 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Peace Rally. Sponsored by the DeKalb NAACP. Parade takes place on Main Street in downtowen Stone Mountain beginning at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Rally follows at Champion Theme Middle School gymnasium, 5265 Mimosa Drive, Stone Mountain. 404-241-8006.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Project. An opportunity for ordinary citizens to make a difference in the world, sponsored by Hands On Atlanta, with diverse community service projects throughout Atlanta. Jan. 16. For more information contact Hands On Atlanta at 404-979-2800.
This is just a selective list of MLK-related events. If you know of other events marking the King holiday, please feel free to share them in the comments, or send them to sharrison@ajc.com.