Looks like Northwestern University takes the cake when it comes to hosting big-deal speakers for the commemoration of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of civil rights activist Medger Evers, will speak on Jan. 27 and Warren Washington, who shared the win of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (for provided greater knowledge about man-made climate change) will be the campus speaker on the actual day of observance, Monday, January 20. Click http://www.northwestern.edu/mlk/speaker-ev.html for all the details.
If you can’t make it up to Evanston for these events, here’s what else is happening around Chicagoland.
— The Chicago Sinfonietta (as seen above in that YouTube clip) always hosts a tremendous MLK Day concert. This time it is showcasing the North American premiere of a multimedia work by Dutch composer Jacob Ter Veldhuis, a.k.a. JacobTV, called “Mountain Top.” Inspired by one of King’s most famous speeches, the “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech, the multimedia performances features mixing video and audio of the speech with live orchestral and choral music. Click here for details of the Jan. 19 (at Naperville’s Wentz Concert Hall) and the Jan. 20 (at Chicago’s Symphony Center) tributes.
— The DuSable Museum of African-American History is hosting a rendition of famed play “The Meeting,” which is about a fictional meeting between Malcolm X and Dr. King. The free event, produced by Congo Square Theatre Company, is on Jan. 20. Click here for more details. While there, be sure to take a spin through the multimedia display of “Fifty Years Forward,” an exhibit detailing the 50th anniversary of several significant events in the nation’s move toward civil rights. The 50 years ended in 2012, so the exhibit won’t be around for too much longer. Click here for more info.
— The Chicago Children’s Museum is hosting the play “What Does it Mean, Dr., King?” on Jan. 20. This age-appropriate rendition is perfect for children. For more details, click here.
— City Year Chicago is orchestrating a Day of Service on Jan. 20. Contact them for deets.
