Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

Join us to celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through performances, protest marches, community art programs, and volunteer projects!

This year’s festival features interactive shadow puppet performances created by Nehprii Amenii, music and protest marching with Brooklyn-based musician Fyütch, Our Skin storytime with author Megan Madison, and community art-making projects. On Monday, January 20, Repair the World will also be organizing a volunteer service project to give back to our community.

Celebrate MLK at BCM takes place over two days, Sunday, January 19 and Monday, January 20.

Schedule

Protest Poster Workshop & March

🕒 10:45 am – 11:30 am, 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Use your voice! Join musician and artist Fyütch in exploring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy through civil rights songs and chants. Create your own protest poster highlighting messages of peace and justice, then raise your voice in a march around the Museum as we honor Dr. King’s values and vision for a better world.

Birds of Hope – Puppet Making Workshop

🕒 11:30 am – 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Create your own bird of hope with teaching artist Nehprii Amenii! Your puppet can become part of the story during the “We’ll Rise Up!” performance that follows this workshop. Join us for both programs or enjoy either one on its own.

We’ll Rise Up! – Interactive Puppet Performance

🕒 12:15 pm – 12:35 pm, 2:45 pm – 3:05 pm

Experience an interactive puppet performance inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Created by Nehprii Amenii in collaboration with performers Amparo “Chigui” Santiago, Christian O. Jiménez, and Maria Camia, this show brings Dr. King’s message to life through the magic of puppetry. If you attended the puppet-making workshop, bring your bird of hope to join in the performance!

Self Portraits & Memory Maps in ColorLab Art Studio

🕒 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Create a dynamic self-portrait inspired by the narrative artwork of Aminah Robinson. Using muslin, yarn, buttons, and drawing materials, bring your portrait to life and craft a Memory Map that tells the story of your neighborhood.