Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Gantt Center: Truth & Reconciliation — scheduled announced

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is presenting an event for MLK Day on Monday, January 15, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It takes place at the Gantt Center, 511 South Tryon Street, Charlotte.

MLK Day 2024: Truth & Reconciliation is a free event for all ages.

Learn about all the other MLK Day events in the Charlotte area.

Programming will include panel discussions, children’s activities, art, and more. Check back soon for a schedule.

The museum is highlighting local non-profits and grassroots organizations that work to reserve the legacy of Rev. Dr. King in their own ways. Guests are encouraged to pledge a year of service to one or several of these organizations.

Schedule highlights

9:00 am – 6:00 pm
March With Us: An Interactive Experience (Mecca of Digital Arts (MODA) – An immersive installation that will transport guests back in time to join a unity walk experiencing the spirit and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Led by digital artist Alexander Newman Hall.

9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Year of Service Initiative Station (3rd Floor Mezzanine) – Guests will connect with local organizations that are furthering Dr. King’s dream. They will also be able to sign up to volunteer with their chosen organization(s).

9:15 am – 10:30 am
Our Friend, Martin: Animated Film (Performance Suite, 2nd Floor) – A crowd-favorite animated film every year! A story of two friends in middle school who travel through time, meeting Dr. King at different points in his life. The film features an all-star voice cast, including Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, and Whoopi Goldberg.

9:30 am – 11:00 am
Music Theory for Families: Storytime and Activities (2nd Floor Lobby) – An interactive music performance with live piano sounds and story time of the children’s book, Chris & Frankie. Led by artist and author Christopher Singleton.

10:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
Guided Tours (2nd Floor Lobby) – Guests will about the learn about the Gantt’s history, building, and exhibitions with docent-guided tours.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Civil Rights & Equity: Arts, Culture, & History (4th Floor) – A panel discussion exploring equity with a focus on lived experience and leadership, scholarly analysis, and arts investment. Featuring Mecklenburg County Commissioners board member Arthur Griffin, director of Charlotte’s Knight Foundation Charles Thomas, and Winthrop University professor Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight. Moderated by Angelique Gaines, research associate at UNC Charlotte.
In partnership with Levine Museum of the New South

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Chris & Frankie Book Signing (Museum Store, 1st Floor) – Author Christopher Singleton will sign a copy of his children’s book, Chris & Frankie.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Live Musical Performance with Isaiah Bell (2nd Floor Lobby) – Live acoustic music accompanied by melodic vocals from the talented Isaiah Bell.

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Truth and Imagination: An MLK Day Theatre Workshop for Kids and Families (Performance Suite, 2nd Floor) – Families will engage with theatre and storytelling through activities that celebrate the values of Dr. King, ending with a mini-performance showcasing unique interpretations of the theme. Led by teaching artist and performer, Tiffany Bryant-Jackson.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Premier Event
Past & the Future: What is Our Collective Vision? (2nd Floor Lobby) – Local elder leaders will share a wealth of experience from past challenges and triumphs, which will inform discussion around a collective plan of action to further Dr. King’s dream. Moderated by media veteran Ken Koontz, featuring District 107 Representative Kelly Alexander, Jr., Charlotte’s first Black female firefighter Linda Lockhart, Ken Bridges, the son of T. Bridges, one of the first Black bus drivers, and Doris Boyd, longtime Gantt partner and community leader.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Storytime Nook in the Museum Store (1st Floor) – Children will enjoy a wide assortment of stories that are sure to inspire and empower. All books will be available for purchase. Led by movement artist Kie Jennings.

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Community and Identity: Workshopping Your Activism (4th Floor) – Teens, families, and creatives will participate in exercises that reimagine a world where their community thrives and explore what role they would want to play in Dr. King’s dream. Led by creative educator and artist De’Les Latara.

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Premier Event
MLK’s Global Impact: Dance Performance (2nd Floor Lobby) – Partnering with Levine Museum of the New South this performance will bring a movement-based interpretation of Dr. King’s influence on our world, leveraging the art form of dance to celebrate a global journey toward peace. Led by MufukaWorks Dance Company, and Dances of India.

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Premier Event
A Binding Truth: Screening and Talkback (4th Floor) – In partnership with the Bogues Group and Learning from the Future, the film A Binding Truth is the story of two Black and White high school athletes’ journey through one of North Carolina’s most volatile civil rights cases, played out at the intersection of football and race, including a shocking discovery that reveals secrets found buried in church records that would change their lives. Their story, rooted in the South, is also America’s story—one of slavery’s legacy and our current racial divide. The screening will be an abridged version of the film, including an interactive panel of the film’s two athletes Jimmie Kirkpatrick and H.D. Kirkpatrick, RP3 Strategies’ Bob Johnson, Evolve Consulting’s Dave Newell, and other special guests.

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Premier Event
Conscious Sounds: Musical Performance (2nd Floor Lobby) – Enjoy the sounds of the ongoing movement focusing on past and contemporary explorations of peace, equity, and activism. Curated by musician and community leader Tim Scott, featuring Eric Brice, Evan Brice, and CJ Mercer.

 

More MLK Day Events

Check out our list of MLK Day events in the Charlotte area or look at a few of them here: