Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
On the 52nd Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Death, April 4th, The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel will present a virtual commemoration in honor of his life and legacy.
Each year, the museum commemorates the event that occurred on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in 1968, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum has produced digital content and a virtual broadcast entitled, “Remembering MLK: The Man. The Movement. The Moment.” The program airs at 5 p.m. Central Saturday, April 4th, on the museum’s website, YouTube, Facebook, Livestream platforms.
The virtual commemoration will include some segments of MLK50 and past ceremonies with remarks from civil rights icons Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Rev. James Lawson, and Dr. Omid Safi, Islamic Studies Duke University. Performances include selections from the MLK50 Legacy Choir and spoken word by Ed Mabrey. The broadcast will show an excerpt of The Mountaintop speech and a moment of silence and reflection at 6:01 p.m., the exact time Dr. King was shot.
Also during the virtual commemoration, Museum Educator Dory Lerner will read the children’s book, Martin’s Big Words, engage in learning activities, and answer parents’ and kids’ questions about Dr. King. Other new digital components include a music video, a poetry challenge, and a timeline of Dr.King’s last seven days.
“We should always stop and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King on April 4th, but this year it is needed more than ever as we try to navigate through this public health crisis,” said Museum President Terri Lee Freeman in a press release.
“Dr. King’s message of economic equity is so relevant. We are seeing the devastation this crisis is taking, not just on the health of our communities but on the economic well-being of our neighbors. We are seeing just how fragile the financial safety net is for far too many people. Celebrating King’s acceptance of humanity, but disdain of inequity and injustice, is very important in 2020,” she said.