Celebrate Martin Luther King's legacy at the Museum of the African Diaspora

The Museum of the African Diaspora will be celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday, life and legacy by hosting a full day of programs, exhibits, performances and art.

To honor the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s life and bring people together, MoAD is offering free admission to the museum and all of its exhibits, performances and programs for the entire day.

“This year, I am remembering the struggle to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal day of remembrance. I especially remember signing the mighty petition for Congress to pass the law,” said Linda Harrison, Executive Director of MoAD. MLK Day was first observed in 1986.

Normally, MoAD is closed on Monday and Tuesday. But this special Monday, the museum has put together a program that includes film, photography, poetry and musical performances that celebrate the lasting greatness of King.

 Jamie Treacy A Crystalline Hub For Potential Memory. http://jamietreacy.com/

MLK Day celebrations start on the sidewalk with Jamie Treacy’s chalk art from 1-3 p.m.

 At 11:30 a.m., Brooklyn’s Castle will be screened on the second floor. The movie tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.(film and discussion 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. )

The celebration then moves to spoken word and poetry performances by "Young, Gifted and Talented from Oakland," a youth cultural arts and education repertory group (2 - 3 p.m.). Freedom stories will be shared by the Bay Area Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement through poetry, photos and music from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
An art project and a scavenger hunt will be held for the younger set. Films about King, his life, struggle and successes, will be shown in the Wells Fargo Heritage Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

About MoAD
Since 2005, the Museum of the African Diaspora showcases the history, art and cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the world, with innovative and engaging exhibitions, education and public programs. As a nonprofit organization, the museum’s operations and programs are supported by grants and contributions from public and private sources.”