Over the course of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, he began to speak about the interconnected universe as the only way to achieve the goals of justice for all.
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. … We aren’t going to have peace on Earth until we recognize this basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality,” King said in a sermon in 1967.
King’s words and deeds became an inspiration for the environmental justice movement, which he tragically did not live to see come to fruition. Using tactics developed during the Civil Rights movement, like legal action and peaceful protest, environmental justice advocates have amplified King’s legacy.
“Make no mistake, the injustice of climate change and the pollution that fuels it are among this century’s most debilitating engines of inequality,” said King’s son, Martin Luther King III in a CNN editorial.
To continue celebrating King’s work, the Yale Peabody Museum will hold its 29th annual commemoration of the civil rights pioneer on Monday, January 20 from 10 am to 4 pm at the museum, located at 170 Whitney Avenue. Citizens is the presenting corporate sponsor for workforce development.
“Coming together as a community to remember Dr. King and explore how his words and deeds have continued resonance is a high point of the year for us. We are excited to be able to stand alongside our community partners and learn from one another,” said Peabody Museum Director David Skelly.
For over two decades, the Yale Peabody Museum has worked alongside organizations across the greater New Haven community to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy. This year the museum is honored to partner with the New Haven Museum, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the New Haven Free Public Library, Students for Educational Justice, New Haven Public Schools, the Q House, and more.
There will be performances, kid-friendly activities, crafts, food trucks, and a poetry slam over the course of the day at both the Yale Peabody Museum and the New Haven Museum. A group of New Haven elders will share their experience fighting for voting rights in a short documentary film, receiving its premiere at the event. The Sons of Allen Men’s Choir from AME Church and musician Michael Mills will perform.
Click here for the day's schedule of events.
Join influential poet-performers Croilot (Kwalo) and Sharmont "Influence" Little as they emcee an electrifying spoken word experience in honor of Zannette Lewis, founder of the annual MLK Poetry Slam. This signature event attracts a large and supportive crowd every year.
“Spoken word poetry honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s remarkable skill as an orator, who himself used spoken word to fuel the Civil Rights movement,” said Andrea Motto, the museum’s Assistant Director of Public Education & Outreach..
The slam will kick off with a community poetry open mic event from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Sharmont "Influence" Little, the New Haven Poet Laureate, will emcee the open mic portion of the event. At 1 pm, teams of poets will compete for a cash prize in an Invitational Team Slam, an exciting new format for the long-running event. Poet Croilot (Kwalo) Adames Semexant will host the slam.
In addition, the Peabody is planning a series of events in recognition of Black History Month. “This is a kickoff for a month of events commemorating Dr. King’s legacy of social and environmental justice,” Motto said. “We want to honor the incredible work of a wide range of stakeholders and a new generation of museum leaders.”
Planned events include Spanish language workshops, New Haven Public School field trips connected to Black History in Science, performances, and panel discussions.
PRESS CONTACT: Steven Scarpa, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, steven.scarpa@yale.edu.
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