The National Civil Rights Museum will study the life and death of Dr. Mark Martin Luther King Jr. 53 years after his murder in Memphis with a special virtual reminder on Sunday evening.
The museum, which is closed on Sundays – although guests are welcome to pay tribute to King in the building’s courtyard – will open at 5:00 pm (local time) with a multi-faceted online event titled “Remembering MLK: The Man. The Movement. The. The Moment. ”
According to the program notes, the show will include an interview with Rev. James Lawson, an important ally of the king and staunch advocate of nonviolent philosophy. NBC correspondent Tracie Potts will conduct the interview with Lawson.
Dr. Bernard L. Richardson, Dean of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel and Chief Religious Officer at Howard University, will deliver a keynote address exploring the king’s life and his legacy of altruism.
An ecumenical tribute includes an invocation to Bishop David P. Talley of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Tour guides from the National Civil Rights Museum will also perform the poem “Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Gwendolyn Brooks.
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There will be musical performances by singers Karen Brown and Chris Barnes, directed by Garry Goin, which will end with a performance of King’s favorite hymn “Precious Lord” by the vocal ensemble Adajyo.
The museum states that the program will “culminate with the ringing of bells and a moment of silence at 6:01 p.m. when Dr. King was shot dead on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel”.
Following the memorial program, “Caged” will be presented, a commissioned chamber orchestra piece by the Afro-American composer Brian Nabors.
The piece will be performed by members of the Artist Fellows of the Iris Orchestra and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra / University of Memphis Fellows, programs dedicated to emerging musicians from African American and Latin American communities. Musicians who will perform include Katie Brown, Amaro Dubois, Allison Lovera, Estefan Perez and Carrington Truehart.
The event is free to watch, but registration is required. To register, go to Civilrightsmuseum.org/events.
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