Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend 2015

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The events in Ferguson, Missouri raised questions along racial lines in current times, creating dialogue across the country. Over MLK Weekend 2015, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum convenes the public to continue the work towards solutions. Also, the museum presents a variety of kid-friendly and adult programs to inspire positive change and to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

Gallery Walk with the Artist of Struggle: Portraits of Civil Rights and Black Power at noon.

Tour the exhibition Struggle: Portraits of Civil Rights and Black Power with the photographer behind the portraits, J.M. Giordano. Giordano has photographed the well-known, as well as unsung, freedom fighters of the era in formal portraits. While historic images of civil rights and Black Power leaders exist through photojournalism, Giordano composes portraits as a statement of the prominence of these individuals. His work establishes a new visual history of this pivotal American era. An informal Q&A follows. Special admission $5.

MLK Children’s Birthday Party (ages 6-10) at 2 p.m.

Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a children’s birthday party to celebrate the Civil Rights leader. Enjoy a screening of the children’s video, “March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World” to learn about the March on Washington. Sing freedom songs and join in games about tolerance with storyteller Janice the Griot. Create an “I have a Dream” craft project with museum staff. Cake and ice cream will be served. To RSVP, call 443-263-1875 or visit RFLewisMuseum.org. Special admission $5.

Monday, January 19—MLK Day Commemoration from noon to 5 p.m.

A Community Roundtable Conversation: Healing Beyond Ferguson

The museum seeks to be a place where people of different backgrounds and races can come together for learning and understanding. The capstone event for MLK Day will be a roundtable discussion that continues the work towards solutions after recent events like those in Ferguson, Missouri. Visitors are invited to join in the conversation led by roundtable speakers to include Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby, Judge Robert Bell, Reverend Al Hathaway, Farajii Muhammad, co-founder and president of the youth-governed organization, New Learning Leadership Center, Meaca Downing, a member the New Learning Leadership Center; and Dr. H. Lovell Smith, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Loyola University..

Live Performance: Drumetry (Drums + Poetry)

Dr. Dorothy Adamson Holley of N-Chat celebrates freedom by performing Drumetry™, an art form that combines poetry and drumming.

Live Performance: A Cappella Quintet

In Process, a women’s a cappella quintet, performs freedom songs. Their performance pays homage to Freedom Riders, the individuals who risked their lives in 1961 to protest segregation at interstate bus terminals in the Deep South by traveling together throughout the region.

“Stories from the Struggle for Civil Rights”

Individuals recount moving oral histories, such as John and Shirley Billy who will tell of their experience as an inter-racial couple in pre-Civil Rights America.

All events to be held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is Baltimore’s premier facility highlighting the history and accomplishments of African Americans with a special focus on Maryland’s African American community. For more information, call 443-263-1800 or visit: www.RFLewisMuseum.org

“Face It” Wall

Visitors are invited to post their thoughts on the “Face It” Wall, as part of an interactive project inside the museum to create critical thought about events like Ferguson, Missouri. Virtual visitors will be able to post on the museum’s social media streams.

Community Quilt Unveiled

This fall, the public was invited to create quilt squares at the museum answering the question “What does it mean to be American?” The completed quilt will be unveiled and will join the permanent collection of the museum. The project was led by Dr. Joan Gaither, a celebrated quilter who documents stories through quilts.