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The 38th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mon, Jan 15, 2024
Watch the livestream

Presented by BAM and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
    Part of
  • Winter/Spring 2024
We honor Dr. King’s radical spirit at this beloved Brooklyn tradition, which rings in a new year with musical performances and an invigorating call to action. Keynote speaker Reginald Dwayne Betts—a poet, lawyer, and founder and CEO of Freedom Reads—offers reflections on freedom anchored in his own journey, his enduring commitment to social justice, and his work to radically transform access to literature in prison. Featuring uplifting performances by Sing Harlem and singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin, this annual tribute invites us to reflect, recharge, and support one another as we carry on Dr. King’s relentless pursuit of equality and justice.

The celebration continues with a free screening of Rustin at 1pm at BAM Rose Cinemas and family friendly activities presented by BAMkids in The Adam Space. Learn more and RSVP below!

UPCOMING Performances

      VENUE

      Watch the livestream

      ACCESSIBILITY


      ASL Interpretation provided by Sign Nexus

      TICKET INFORMATION

      GENERAL ADMISSION

      Tickets are free for this event and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8am on January 15 in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby. Please note that providing an RSVP does not guarantee entry.

      LIVESTREAM

      A livestream will be available on BAM.org during the event. The link will not be available after the program.
      All performances will adhere to protocols developed in accordance with New York State regulations and in consultation with medical professionals for the safety of our artists, audiences, and staff. 

      WATCH THE LIVESTREAM

      Major Sponsor of
      The 38th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to
      Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. provided by:

      Citizen

      Leadership support for
      BAM Access Programs provided by the
      Jerome L. Greene Foundation

      JL Greene

      Leadership support for programming in the
      Howard Gilman Opera House and off-site programs provided by:

      HGF

      Leadership support for
      BAM Community programs provided by
      The Thompson
      Family Foundation

      Leadership support for
      BAM Film programs
      provided by
      The Ford Foundation

      Leadership support for
      virtual programming at BAM provided by
      the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation

      Major support for programs in
      the Lepercq Cinema is provided by
      The Lepercq Charitable Foundation

      Major Sponsor of
      Community Programming at BAM:

      HGF

      • Share the Brooklyn magic! Donate to BAM today at BAM.org/support

      BIOS

      • Reginald Dwayne Betts
        Reginald Dwayne Betts is a poet and lawyer. A 2021 MacArthur Fellow, he is the Founder and CEO of the Freedom Reads, an organization that opens libraries in prisons, transforming cellblocks into Freedom Libraries. For over twenty years, he has used poetry and essays to explore the world of prison and the effects of violence and incarceration on American society. The author of a memoir and three collections of poetry, he transformed his latest poetry collection, the American Book Award-winning Felon, into a solo theater show. In 2019, Betts won a National Magazine Award for his NYT Magazine essay chronicling hisq2-=[]21 He has been awarded a Radcliffe Fellowship from Harvard, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Emerson Fellow at New America, and a Civil Society Fellow at Aspen. Betts holds a J.D. from Yale Law School.
      • Sing Harlem
        Originally the breakout choir for Mama Foundation for the Arts’ School of Gospel, Jazz, and R&B Arts, this award-winning choir has flourished under the direction of Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson, serving as both a social impact initiative for young alumni and a commercial choir. They have performed at Lincoln Center, the Grammy Awards, and Saturday Night Live—among other destinations—and accompanied artists including Sting, Arianna Grande, and Madonna. All proceeds from their performances benefit the Mama Foundation’s music training programs, which are provided to the Harlem community tuition-free.
      • Madison McFerrin
        Independent artist and musician Madison McFerrin has come into her own, with three self produced EPs and numerous performances and curatorships. Her distinct vocal stylings blend R&B, pop, soul, and jazz. Questlove dubbed her early sound “soul-appella” and AdHoc described her work as “an oasis of serenity.” Madison is often looking towards inner liberation. Whether she is writing about understanding one’s intuition or cyclical violence, she explores how to get free and care for oneself along the way. She works at the intersection of artistry and community building, and has prioritized the work of women and POC in her curatorial tenures at venues like C'mon Everybody, the WNYC Greene Space, and the BRIC Jazz festival. The result is an enduring commitment to finding ways to think better, express ourselves honestly, and nurture a sense of possibility.

      EXPLORE MLK DAY

      • Film

        Rustin

        Mon, Jan 15, 2024

        Rustin

        Mon, Jan 15, 2024
        FREE
        A stunning portrait of the man responsible for organizing the 1963 March on Washington who, alongside Dr. King, dared to imagine a more just world.
        More
        Film

        Rustin

        Mon, Jan 15, 2024
        A stunning portrait of the man responsible for organizing the 1963 march on Washington.
      • Community | Kids

        BAMkids Celebrates MLK Day: Small Things In Great Ways

        Jan 16—Jan 17, 2024

        BAMkids Celebrates MLK Day: Small Things In Great Ways

        Jan 16—Jan 17, 2024
        FREE
        These fun, family-friendly activities celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and encourage acts of service through collaborative banner-making, coloring, spoken word, and song.
        More
        Community | Kids

        BAMkids Celebrates MLK Day: Small Things In Great Ways

        Jan 16—Jan 17, 2024
        Honor Dr. King’s legacy through collaborative banner-making, coloring, spoken word, and song.

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        BAM Membership: Sign up
        MEMBERSHIP

        BAM Membership ($85+)

        Enjoy half off stages and screens as a member. With valuable discounts, advance access to tickets, and invitations to special events, BAM Membership is your license to see more for less.
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        BAM Patrons ($2,000+)

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        Young Producers ($500+)

        Young Producers are a dynamic group of patrons who share a unique passion for BAM programming and play an integral part in supporting BAM’s work.
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        SUPPORT

        Young Producers ($500+)

        Young Producers are a dynamic group of patrons who share a unique passion for BAM programming and play an integral part in supporting BAM’s work.
      Photo: Marvin Koner/Corbis Premium Historical via Getty Images

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