COOL DISCOVERY: MY RELATIVE SANG AT BAM IN 1895

My dad, a great family historian, recently let me know that one of my relatives from his side of the family sang at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (then known as the Academy of Music) in  1895.  She sang in the opera Carmen.  I'm proud!

THOUGHTS ABOUT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC'S 26TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING

For several years now, I have attended the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Annual Tribute to Martin Luther King. I go because I feel it's important to be in a community setting on this day, and to publicly acknowledge the important role that he and thousands of people played during his time to address racism and classism in our society.

The morning program is a combination of musical performances, talks given by New York political figures, and a talk given by a single keynote speaker. This year, that speaker was Dennis Wolcott, Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education. In recent years, it was Danny Glover and Minnijean Brown-Trickey, one of the Little Rock Nine.

This year, there were amazing and uplifting musical performances given by Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely, as well as by the Institutional Radio Choir from the C.O.G.I.C of Brooklyn. The choir began the program by leading us in singing Lift Every Voice. To conclude the program, Toshi had the audience link arms and sing We Shall Overcome, replacing the word someday with today.

I had the same thought about the program that I have every year: the most inspiring, engaging part is the music. The time that the politicians use to give their speeches and push their particular agendas goes on for way too long. You can feel the energy in the room go down every time one in the long line-up of people came on stage.

BAM is a cultural institution, and as such, it is in a prime position to inspire and engage people through a range of artistic medium. To their already amazing musical performances for this program, why don't they add film clips of MLK, some performances and readings given by children and teenagers, a bit of theater and dance? The performances given by the choir and by Toshi, and the feeling of inspiration and hope they inspired, will stay with me for far longer than the words of the politicians.

BAM'S 26TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON MONDAY JANUARY 16

26th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Part of the 2012 Tribute to MLK

Mon, Jan 16 at 10:30am (Ed Note: Get there early; tickets go fast)

BAM, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York present New York City’s largest public celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year, BAM welcomes keynote speaker Dennis M. Walcott, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. A lifelong resident of Queens and a graduate of New York City public schools, Walcott has spent his life committed to Dr. King’s vision of social justice through advocacy of improved educational policy and social services for both children and adults. Walcott pays tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy in this uplifting, music-filled tribute to one of the great humanitarians of our time.

Musical performances by Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely and The Institutional Radio Choir C.O.G.I.C. of Brooklyn round out the program.

Following the event in the Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas presents a free screening of the film The Black Power Mixtape 1967—1975. Featuring never-before-seen interviews with many leaders of the Black Power Movement this moving documentary features a treasure trove of footage shot by Swedish journalists who came to the US drawn by stories of urban unrest and revolution.

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

Free! First come, first seated. One ticket per person.

BAM IS THE PLACE TO BE TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

This is one of a series of posts dedicated to February's Black History Month.

It is well worth the morning wait in line for tickets to attend the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I knew it would be, based on last year's same celebration, where one of Little Rock Nine's Minney Jean Brown Trickey delivered a memorable keynote address.

This year, Danny Glover gave a short and powerful keynote speech which focused in part on the question "What would Martin Luther King, Jr. say about the conditions in Haiti?"

Glover's question was one that showed up in many of the speeches delivered by the morning's politicians: What would MLK have to say about what is going on today's world? And what would he do? One politician suggested that King would be leading a march on Washington to fight for health care reform.

Other highlights of the event included high-octane performances throughout the show by the New Life Tabernacle Mass Choir and by Kenny Muhammed, The Human Orchestra.

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC IS PLACE TO BE ON MLK DAY

Whether you live in Brooklyn or elsewhere, I encourage you to celebrate Martin Luther King day in some way.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to get into the Martin Luther Day Tribute at BAM, featuring Minnie Jean Brown Trickey of the Little Rock Seven. This year's morning-of tribute will feature actor and activist Danny Glover. The program starts at 10:30 and I suggest you show up EARLY if you want to get a ticket. It's FREE and also first-come, first serve.

Programs Tribute to MLK

	Neighborhood, Exhibitions Picture the Dream Jan 15—18 BAMcafé	.
	Music BRC 25th Anniversary Celebration: The Civil Rights Songbook of Curtis Mayfield Fri, Jan 15 & Sat, Jan 16 at 9pm	.
	Neighborhood, Repertory Soundtrack for a Revolution Mon, Jan 18 at 1pm BAM Rose Cinemas	.
	24th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mon, Jan 18 at 10:30am BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

MLK DAY AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC (WHERE I'LL BE TODAY)

(Image and text taken from BAM website.)

23rd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mon, Jan 19 at 10:30am

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

Free! First come, first seated. (Note: One ticket per person. No groups.)

BAM, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York present New York City’s largest public celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year, BAM welcomes keynote speaker Minnijean Brown Trickey, part of the "Little Rock Nine." Rounding out the program will be inspirational performances by James Hall Worship & Praise as well as music by Brian Jackson, best-known for his historic collaborations with spoken word icon Gil Scott-Heron.

Following the event in the Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas will present a free screening of the acclaimed documentary Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later (2007, 70 min), which provides a candid look at the lives of contemporary Central High Students, the film will be introduced by Ms. Brown Trickey.

Also visit BAMcafé to view Picture the Dream, a youth art exhibition, and to hear free musical programming as part of BAMcafé Live.