Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year to honor one of the most important leaders in U.S. history.
A giant of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism protesting racial discrimination in the U.S. from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi, King led nonviolent marches for desegregation, the right to vote, labor rights, and other civil rights.
Dr. King has considerable ties to Boston, where he earned his PhD from Boston University and met his wife, Coretta Scott King. The following events throughout Greater Boston honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate his life and work.
Pine Street Inn Choir: “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Events:
- January 12: Shabbat Tzedek with Imari Paris Jeffries, CEO and President of Embrace Boston — A Sabbath of Justice celebrating Martin Luther King at the Temple of Israel of Boston.
- January 12-14: Hear Her Sing for Freedom — A theater production on the legacy of Coretta Scott King at the Multicultural Arts Center.
- January 13: Community Art-Making Activity — The Museum of Fine Art hosts a special community art-making activity at the Citizens branch on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester.
- January 14: MLK Embrace Honors: Friends & Family Sneaker Affair — Honoring community and civic leaders in Boston.
- January 15: A Celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr — Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s annual free MLK tribute concert at Faneuil Hall.
- January 15: Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Jr., Day of Service — A day of social justice storytelling, art-making and music at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
- January 15: In the Name of Love — Boston Children’s Chorus 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert at Boston Symphony Hall.
- January 15: Keeping the Promise of Democracy — The 54th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast
- January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration — Create and view art that examines social justice, identity and freedom at the Peabody Essex Museum.
- January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Free Admission — Explore race and identity-focused exhibitions, art-making and a short film screening at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
- January 15: MLK Day Open House — Performances, talks and art-making at the Museum of Fine Art.
- January 15: Na’aseh’s 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr Day Breakfast Event — Breakfast and a program with guest speaker, civil rights activist Jean McGuire.
- January 16: 49th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture — Professor Randall Kennedy, the Michael R. Klein Professor at Harvard Law School, lectures at the Cambridge Public Library.