Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is just around the corner. Celebrated Jan. 21 to honor King’s actual birthday Jan. 15, the day provides a holiday for many while for others it serves as a call to take stock of the state of civil rights in America and give due credence to the man who died working to free African Americans, and by extension all minorities, who continue to suffer under institutionalized social and political oppression.

In Tacoma, there are numerous public and private events being held on or near MLK Day. Here is a rundown on three of the larger community celebrations open to everyone. 

CITY OF TACOMA

The city’s MLK Day event at Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with the theme “Women of the Movement: Give Them a Standing Ovation.” The two women credited with getting the city’s official MLK event off the ground in its first and second year, Bernice Griffin and Melanie Cunningham, will be recognized for their accomplishment. The celebration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and parking and admission are free.

“This is a big year for us,” said Charles Leech, compliance manager of the city’s Human Rights and Human Services Department and executive producer of the MLK program. “This year we’re recognizing women who are normally behind the scenes working hard. We’re dedicating this year to them.”

Leech also said there will be a special guest, but he could not reveal the name. “People are going to be real surprised,” he said.

The celebration, which attracts anywhere from 3,000-4,000 people, starts off with a free continental breakfast and features lots of upbeat entertainment. Leech said most of the invited artists have written original material specifically for this event - music, poetry and dances including ballet, tap, hip hop and more.

The keynote speaker will be Rev. Leslie David Braxton of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Renton. Carol Mitchell from TV Tacoma channel 12 will be mistress of ceremonies, and the event will be televised live on the same channel.

Representatives from city and county government will speak, including U.S. Representative Adam Smith.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring non-perishable items for the food drive.

URBAN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

The second annual “Redeeming the Vision” event in honor of Dr. King will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Urban Grace - The Downtown Church.

It is free and open to the general public. The celebration will feature music, dance, spoken word performances and a keynote address delivered by University of Puget Sound professor Dr. Dexter Gordon. An interfaith blessing will be given by Rabbi Bruce Kadden, Imam Amir Abdul-Matin, Associated Ministries Director David Alger and a Bahai representative.

This year’s theatrical presentation will include King’s anti-war writings as told through a creative piece under the direction of local playwright C. Rosalind Bell, who also penned the memorable “New Orleans Monologues.” Her dramatic presentation will include music by Steve and Kristi Nebel and actors Charles Canada and Mark Peterson.

Musical performances will include the trumpet playing of Ouwor Arunga, vocalist Jasmine Coates, and hip-hop group 2012. Khalfani Mwamba will welcome and accompany guests out of the church with his drumming.

“Redeeming the Vision” is sponsored by Urban Grace, Associated Ministries and The Conversation, a group of Tacoma and South Sound residents committed to building a diverse, critically engaged, social justice community to procure a better life for local communities. With “Justice for All” as its foundational principle, The Conversation’s focus is two-fold: to provide encouragement and support for social justice activists and to promote justice in such areas as the legal system, wages, housing, healthcare, and education. The church is located at the corner of South 9th and Market streets. 

WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUM

Washington State History Museum is celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan. 21 with free admission throughout the day for Tacomans to take part in the museum’s planned festivities, which begin at 1:30 p.m.

Opening the program is hip-hop group 2012, with a performance of their tribute song to King, “Comrade Isis.” More than just a hip-hop crew, 2012, comprised of Charhys Bailey, Keith Blocker, Noah Prince and Alan Wong, works with local youth to encourage them to fulfill their dreams. The group recently performed at So’Just 2007, held at the Evergreen State College’s Tacoma campus in October, a festival that hopes to bring attention to social justice issues and promote activism through the power of music.

At 2:15 p.m. children’s gospel choir Voices of Angels will take the stage. Started in May 2006, the group aims to minister through music. Voices of Angels is composed of members ages 3-11 from the Tacoma, Renton, Seattle and Shoreline areas. They will perform a medley of songs with the theme of making Dr. King’s “dream” come true.

Then at 3 p.m., Louisiana native turned Tacoma resident C. Rosalind Bell will perform an excerpt from “The New Orleans Monologues.” Both funny and tragic, “Monologues” tells the story of the different ways people suffered the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In it, Bell challenges the extinction of Jim Crow with the resurrection of Katrina Crow, begging the question of freedom and justice for all.

A full staging of “Monologues” was held at the Norton Clapp Theatre at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) last November. It will be restaged again as part of the Northwest Playwrights Festival of New Plays at Tacoma’s Theatre on the Square in February. Bell was most recently an artist in residence at UPS. She hosts a cooking show called “Good Eating with Ros” on Comcast Cable and On Demand.