The Charles H. Wright Museum
of African American History
Monday, January 16, 2023
Celebrate MLK Day with the Wright!
Explore the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History!
Thank You to our 2023 MLK Day Presenting Sponsor
Additional Support Provided By
Don't miss this incredible annual event, commemorating the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and presented in partnership with Citizens Bank. View a full schedule of ticketed and free events below.
Tickets for the breakfast and President's Lecture Series can be purchased here. Visitors can purchase general admission tickets for our exhibitions at the museum. Family friendly programming and our film screening are free to the general public.
Schedule
MLK PRAYER Breakfast | 8 AM - 11 AM
Join us for a buffet breakfast and an inspiring program featuring an invocation from Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Senior Pastor of West Side Unity Church and a keynote from Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd. Dr. Boyd is a Distinguished Professor in African American Studies at Wayne State University and an award-winning author of 13 books, nine of which are poetry.
workshops and Programming | 11 AM - 3 PM
The museum will feature free educational workshops and family-friendly programming for the day they will include:
- Two "Tipping the Poem” Poetry workshops led by Poet Tawana Petty (11am and 1pm)
- Restore the Dream Workshop (all day)
- What's Your Dream Workshop (all day)
- Tipping the Scales of Justice Workshop (all day)
Feature Film: Who We Are: A Chronicle on Racism in America | 1 PM - 3 PM
Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and revelations, ACLU deputy legal director Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to modern America and our collective responsibility to overcome it.
President’s Lecture Series | 4 PM - 5:30 PM
In Partnership with Detroit Public Television
The 2023 President’s Lecture Series is a curated collection of events featuring dynamic speakers chosen by the President of the Charles H. Wright Museum, Neil A. Barclay. Dedicated to bringing insightful and robust conversation to the Detroit community, the series addresses critical topics in the areas of civic engagement, art, history, and culture.
The first lecture features Charles M. Blow, an American journalist, commentator and op-ed columnist for The New York Times and current political analyst for MSNBC. Mr. Blow is also the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times best-selling memoir, Fire Shut Up in My Bones. His second book is called, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto.
