This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, the United States celebrates the birth of the great non-violence activist and civil rights leader. The federal holiday was signed into law in 1983 by President Reagan, but it wasn’t until the year 2000 that all 50 states officially observed the holiday.
For 45 years, Seattle has honored Dr. King with a celebration of his life and call to continued action. The event includes music, poetry, awards and a keynote address. This year’s speaker was Seattle writer Ijeoma Oluo, the author of the new book “So You Want to Talk About Race.” Her speech addresses MLK’s legacy and the state of non-violence in 2018.
The 45th Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., presented by Seattle Colleges, was held on January 12 at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Sonya Harris recorded the event.
Listen to the full version below:
