The nation’s largest birthday tribute to Nobel Peace prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will again feature a national and prominent speaker with the booking of author, intellectual and educator Dr. Cornel West who will keynote the 29th annual Brooklyn celebrate known as “Come Share the Dream.”
The free community event held at Brooklyn Academy of Music annually attracts standing room only crowds and attracts state and city legislators, prominent community representatives and a host of New Yorkers who converge on the county from all five boroughs,
Featuring spirited music – this year by the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, Sandra St. Victor and Oya’s Daughter, the lively program traditionally stages the nation’s standard bearer to mark the life and legacy of America’s best known Civil Rights advocate.
Regular patrons already know that “the early bird catches the worm” therefore they arrive ahead of the 10:30 a.m. start to secure choice seats and in turn benefit from the ‘first-come-first-served’ offer.
Undoubtedly, crowds will clamor to hear the address by the provocative speaker whose work largely focuses on the role of race, gender and class in American society. He is a frequent media commentator on national and international outlets tackling political and social issues.
He will be introduced by the traditional master of ceremonies, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams who is expected to deliver an inspiring tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy.
The borough president will be making his second appearance in that capacity since being sworn in last January.
The enlightening program will also include remarks from BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins and Dr. Rudolph F. Crew, president of Medgar Evers College.
The event will be held at BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave. on Jan 19.
Additional events slated for the location on that date include a book signing by West of his two current publications “The Radical King” and “Black Prophetic Fire.”
The publications reflect a collection of writings by Dr. King which are edited and introduced by West. That event is slated for 1 p.m. at BaMCafe.
Simultaneously in the same space, a visual art presentation titled “Picture the Dream” highlights an exhibition by students of NYCHA Atlantic Terminal Community Center.
The all day tribute will also feature a screening in the BAM Rose Cinemas of the documentary film “The Central Park Five.”
Directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon the film has been credited with expediting the exoneration of the men who as teenaged youths were wrongfully, convicted of raping a jogger in Central Park.
For more information, log onto www.bam.org.
