Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 15 — we’re remembering his presence in the City of Oaks and highlighting what you can do to honor his life and legacy.
How is King connected to NC + the Triangle?
- King’s first visit to Raleigh was in April 1960 to support the Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at Shaw University.
- The NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources found evidence that King delivered an early version of the famous “I Have A Dream” speech at a school gymnasium in Rocky Mount (~55 mins from Raleigh) on Nov. 27, 1962.
- King spoke to an integrated audience of ~5,000 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh on July 31, 1966. Read about his visit here.
Does the city have a dedication to Dr. King?
- Yes — Raleigh is home to the first public park in the US solely devoted to King and the civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens is located at 1215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. DYK: The park houses a life-size sculpture of King + more civil rights-centric public art.
What can I do to celebrate?
Monday, Jan. 15
- MLK Dreamfest: Walk For Hope 5K | Monday, Jan. 15 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church, 316 Allen Lewis Dr., Cary | Free | Bring donations like adult jackets, men’s clothing, toiletries, and feminine products and walk to raise awareness for unhoused residents with Love from Above and Oak City Cares.
- Nicole Tadgell | We Dream a World (Storytime) | Monday, Jan. 15 | 10:30-11 a.m. | Quail Ridge Books, 4209 Ste. 100 Lassiter Mill Rd., Raleigh | Free | Artist Nicole Tadgell will read this tribute to Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.
- 44th Annual Martin Luther King Memorial March | Monday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | State Capitol Building, Edenton Street Side, Raleigh | Free | This march will begin at the State Capitol Building — there will be a noon observation to follow at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
- John Chavis Memorial Park Presents King Day Celebration | Monday, Jan. 15 | 12-3 p.m. | John Chavis Memorial Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh | Free | Celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with a clean-up event, educational presentations, activities for kids, and a birthday celebration for Dr. King.
- MLK Day of Service | Monday, Jan. 15 | 12-3 p.m. | Boys & Girls Club of Raleigh, 721 N. Raleigh Blvd. , Raleigh | Free | Sign up for one of the many volunteer opportunities available to honor Dr. King’s legacy by creating a fun and safe environment for children + youth.
Thursday, Jan. 18
- When MLK and the KKK Met in Raleigh | Thursday, Jan. 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | Free | Register for this lecture — which focuses on newly discovered film footage — by National Humanities Center Fellow and NC State professor Dr. W. Jason Miller.
Know of any other events or interesting facts surrounding MLK in the Triangle? Share them with us.