In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson will be hosting a night dedicated to the life and legacy of the civil rights activist.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s involvement in Mississippi included walking in Medgar Evers’ funeral process in 1963, visiting Greenwood in support of the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, as well as testifying in support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party during the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice,” King said in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. “Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.”
Sponsored by FedEx, the 2024 MLK Night of Culture on Monday, Jan. 15 will begin at 6 p.m. inside the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium and is free to the public. This year’s event, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, will be hosted by local artist 5th Child.
Artists performing original pieces centered on freedom, voting rights, and education include:
- Musician – Tyler Greer
- African Drumming – Alkebulan
- Spoken Word – Vortex, JT The Poet, Brittany Wilson, and Fran Wade
- Vocalists – Shelby Greer, Ally Durr, and Samantha Morrow; Miss Black Mississippi USA Talented Teen 2024
- Dance – Mississippi Elite Dance and Cheer
- Visual Art – Al Thomas, Kira Cummings, and Kevin Brown
For more information on the 2024 MLK Night of Culture, call (601)576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.
