There will be several events in and around Wichita that will be commemorating the life of civil rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You can participate in these events beginning on Saturday and continuing through the King federal holiday on Monday.
The Kansas African American Museum- Saturday, January 18
Festivities begin at 8am with a pancake breakfast at the Christian Faith Center located at 1130 S. Broadway. Following the breakfast, visitors can participate in a community-wide parade, a community project and a celebration. A $3 button is required to take part in the event.
Two MLK day events will be hosted by Bethel College. Both events will be in the Krehbiel Auditorium located in the Fine Arts Center.
- Sunday, January 19, 7pm
There will be a screening of the 2011 documentary The Loving Story. It details the story of an interracial couple arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia law. The court case that followed resulted in the end of anti-miscegenation laws in the United States. There will be a discussion following the film with Ada Schmidt-Tieszen, a professor of social work at Bethel College.
- Monday, January 20, 7pm
The night begins with a keynote address from Ewuare Osayande titled Facing the Triple Giants: Racism, Militarism, and Materialism. Osayande is a political activist, award-winning author, cultural analyst, poet, essayist, publisher and internet radio talk show host. After the address, there will be another screening of The Loving Story. There will also be a freewill offering at the event to help support the Newton Community for Racial Justice.
Greater Wichita Ministerial League – Monday, January 20, 12pm
This celebration, hosted by Wichita State University and the Greater Wichita Ministerial League, will take place at the WSU MetroPlex located at East 29th St N. The keynote speaker will be Chancellor of The University of Kansas, Dr. Bernadette Gray-Little. The theme for the event is King's Legacy of Peace for Our World and will feature a MLK Community Service Awards presentation, as well as a speech by Gray-Little.