The Institute will host multiple events in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday from January 15-22, including a full day of free events Monday, Jan. 20

Birmingham, AL (January 10, 2025) — The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will open its doors on Monday, January 20 for its annual celebration in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Guests of all ages will be able to tour the BCRI’s historic galleries, enjoy special programming, and engage with a variety of community partners throughout the BCRI campus – all at no cost, thanks to sponsor FedEx. Doors will open at 10 a.m. 

“Dr. King’s legacy is rooted in our mission to enlighten each generation about human and civil rights,” said BCRI Chair, Rosilyn Houston. “Evoking the spirit of Dr. King, we hope the day will be an experience of celebrating community, unity, love and equality – values that he instilled through both his leadership and his example.”

Special programming in the BCRI’s Odessa Woolfolk Gallery will open with a recitation of Dr. King’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, by local actor Mohammed Ali, followed by a rendition of freedom songs from the Carlton Reese Memorial Choir. 

As a new U.S. president is inaugurated at the nation’s capital, a panel of human rights and community leaders will examine how Dr. King’s philosophy of persistent, nonviolent action remains relevant in addressing contemporary social justice issues. The curated discussion aims to bridge the past with present-day civil rights challenges and opportunities. 

The day will close with a tribute to the “drum major for justice” through African drumming and Afro-Latin dance. 

MLK Day at BCRI will also be a day of service for many, with over 200 volunteers scheduled to support various activities and exhibitions on one of the Institute’s busiest days of the year.

The BCRI will host multiple events to celebrate the King holiday, including a tribute night to the late poet-activist Nikki Giovanni on January 15 and painting classes featuring an MLK theme on January 18. 

Visit www.bcri.org/events for the full schedule, additional details, and registration. 

About the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI):
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the BCRI is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding for the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham that changed our world. BCRI reaches more than 150,000 individuals each year through museum visits, group tours, outreach (school and community), award-winning public programs, exhibitions, and extensive archival collections. For more information, visit www.bcri.org.