The recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy as a federal holiday was a long time in the making.
Plans to honor King with a holiday actually began almost immediately — four days — after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, introduced legislation on April 8, 1968.
Although the bill didn’t pass, ceremonies commemorating King on his birthday (Jan. 15, 1929) started happening in 1969 and the push for a national holiday continued. On Nov. 3, 1983 President Ronald Reagan finally signed a bill to honor King on the third Monday of January, starting in 1986.
This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 21.
If you’re looking for a way to honor King, here’s a list of several local events.
IPS 38th annual tribute to King
Indianapolis Public Schools will have the 38th annual tribute to the life and legacy of King 10-11 a.m. Jan. 18 at Crispus Attucks High School, 1140 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. The theme is “Together We Rise,” and the keynote speaker will be City-County Council President Vop Osili. Former TV personality Angela Cain will serve as master of ceremony and the Crispus Attucks High School Concert Choir and students from Building Blocks Academy will perform musical tributes. The program will be livestreamed through WFYI.
The Crispus Attucks Museum will be open after the program. Both the museum and program are free and open to the public.
Service opportunity
Participants interested in making fleece blankets for the Children’s Bureau, Little Red Door Cancer Agency and Early Learning Indiana can join United Way of Central Indiana at the Children’s Bureau, 1575 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. Participants will receive a complimentary lunch and may take a tour of the Children’s Bureau. To register, visit uwci.org/mlk.
IHS offers full day of activities
The Indiana Historical Society is offering free admission 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St. The day will feature performances, programs and service opportunities as well as a chance to learn about Hoosier history through the Indiana Experience exhibit. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
10 a.m.-noon —Join the Madam Walker Legacy Center for their MLK Day of Celebration festivities at the History Center as the Walker Theatre undergoes a renovation.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Join IHS in organizing care packages to benefit the HealthNet Homeless Initiative.
Write a Letter or Make Your Own Activism Poster
Write a letter or create a poster while learning about current causes to engage in and organizations that have stood up to fight throughout history.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Local Speech, Global Reach exhibit, newest traveling exhibit from IHS, will share details of the civil rights movement. A collaboration between IHS and the Kennedy King Memorial Initiative, the exhibit explores King’s legacy and the impact of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s historic speech in Indianapolis.
12:45 p.m. — Collecting and Storytelling of the Civil Rights Movement. The celebrations move to the William H. Smith Memorial Library where visitors are invited to share their own civil rights mementos. The discussion, led by Susan L. Hall-Dotson, IHS coordinator for African-American History, will focus on the importance of preserving and sharing memories of the era.
1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. — Griot Drum Ensemble. Enjoy African-influenced drumming, dance and storytelling. Hear African folktales accompanied by traditional instruments.
2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. — Homelessness Talk
Providing for others
The Kennedy King Memorial Initiative (KKMI) is partnering with Indy Parks and IU Health for various events to commemorate King’s service to others.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 18. — KKMI will take donations at Kennedy King Park Center to fill survival kits. Donation requests include canned chicken, peanut butter, granola bars and crackers.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 21 — MLK Day of Service at Kennedy King Park Center, 601 E. 17th St. Volunteers will help assemble Street Outreach Survival Kits for residents in need. The park will show a video of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis on the night King was killed. Abie Robinson, who witnessed the speech, will address attendees.
Day of service
Franklin College will host a day of service and other activities throughout the day on Jan. 21. Volunteers will do various tasks at different times around Franklin. To volunteer, register by emailing diversity@franklincollege.edu or calling 317-738-8119. Along with volunteer service, the public can attend these free events:
1 p.m. — Chapel Service. Rev. Douglas Gray, pastor at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Franklin, will present “Wake Up and Fulfill the Dream” at Richardson Chapel, 101 Branigin Blvd., as part of an ecumenical Christian worship service to honor King.
3:15 p.m. — Commemorative March. Residents can join the march to honor civil rights leaders of the past. The march will begin west of the B.F. Hamilton Library, 101 Branigin Blvd., at the Indiana Alpha Gazebo and end at Richardson Chapel.
4 p.m. — Convocation Lecture. Writer and magazine editor Cynthia Horner will present a lecture at Richardson Chapel about how King influenced the hip-hop community.
7 p.m. — Showing of “The Hate U Give” at Richardson Chapel. “The Hate U Give” is a crime drama based on a novel by the same name. It shows the fallout after a high school student witnesses a police shooting.
Activities at Connor Prairie
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, will have activities and events throughout the day on Jan. 21 to illustrate King’s vision of what can be accomplished through non-violent protest.
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — Freedom Summer: 1964. Anything Can Happen Theater interpreters will use props to lead guests in imaginative play at Lilly Theater.
11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. — Mr. Daniel’s Music. Mr. Daniel, a local favorite, will play songs of protest from 1960s to today at Lilly Theater.
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. — Willa Brown, Aviatrix. Actors will portray Willa Brown, the first African-American woman to become a licensed pilot, at Create.Connect.
“Selma” showing
The Indiana State Museum IMAX Theater, 650 W. Washington St., will play movies Jan. 21 that are free with the donation of a non-perishable food item. The theater will have a special showing of “Selma” at 7 p.m. Movie-goers must get tickets for “Selma” at the MLK Center, 40 W. 40th St.
Free admission
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., will have free admission for all children and families 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 21. Storyteller Portia Jackson will speak about courageous children from the civil rights movement, and the Griot Drum Ensemble will play music.
Tracy Martin speaks
The Black Student Union at IUPUI will have the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St. Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Black teen shot and killed by George Zimmermann in 2012, will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $25 for IUPUI students, $65 for staff, faculty and alumni and $75 for the general public.
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