The National Center for Civil and Human Rights Commemorates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Slate of Events

Virtual and in-person events for the whole family include interactive art, storytelling, and performances; galleries are open January 15 and 17 with health and safety protocols in effect

ATLANTA, Ga. (Jan. 6, 2021) – The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy this holiday weekend with virtual and in- person events on Dr. King’s birthday (Saturday, January 15) and on MLK Day (Monday, January 17). Featured events include interactive storytelling, visual artist talkbacks, and activities throughout The Center’s galleries.

“Dr. King’s belief in a beloved community is as relevant today as it was during the Civil Rights Movement,” said Jill Savitt, CEO of The Center. “This holiday is an opportunity for all of us to recommit ourselves to heed his call to build that beloved community—in our neighborhoods, city, state, and country. The Center’s 2022 King celebrations focus on arts and storytelling to inspire visitors of all ages to reflect on Dr. King’s vision of justice and equality, so that they may tap their power to change the world around them.”

COVID-19 mitigation guidelines remain in place onsite including requiring masks for visitors, volunteers, and employees, as well as timed entry and limited capacity to reduce exposure. Review The Center’s protocols https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/health-safety- guidelines/.

Hours and tickets are available at: https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/visit/. Special in- person events include:

Friday, January 15 (Dr. King’s birthday)

• Family Day activities in the galleries from 11 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. include interactive storytelling with children’s author Mama Koku and spoken word performances from Emmy-nominated poet Jon Goode in The Center’s Mezzanine, as well as visual artist talks from Savanah College of Art and Design students among the galleries. See www.civilandhumanrights.org/mlk-day-2022/ for the full schedule.

Monday, January 17 (MLK Day)

  • Radio One will broadcast live onsite from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. providing a soundtrack of soul stirring Hip Hop, R&B, and Gospel plus contests and trivia.
  • Center permanent galleries and installations are open including Fragments (a stunning illuminated sculpture of King’s handwriting and phrases), the Voice to the Voiceless Gallery featuring the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, Rolls Down Like Water that immerses visitors in sights, sounds and interactive displays depicting the courage of groups and individuals working for equality for all during the American Civil Rights Movement; and Spark of Conviction, which enables visitors to make connections to the world of human rights.
  • The Center’s digital exhibition We Share the Dream: King’s Beloved Community, examines Dr. King’s ideals behind his vision of the Beloved Community which provided a foundation of action for subsequent movements throughout the 1960’s and 70’s including women’s liberation, LGBTQ rights, and the labor movement.

About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights

The Center, founded in 2014, is a museum and human rights educational institution located in Atlanta, GA, the cradle of civil rights. We create dynamic and empathy- building experiences, teach history’s connection to the present, generate brave and difficult conversations about necessary issues, and inspire the change-maker in each of us to promote civil and human rights in our communities and the world. The Center connects the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to global human rights movements for the rights of people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative, the Campaign for Equal Dignity, mission-based Institutes, expansive educational offerings, and immersive and engaging storytelling we inspire each of us to reflect and think critically, exercise empathy in action, and create positive change locally and globally.

For more information about The Center, visit our website at civilandhumanrights.org.

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