Berkshire County — Multiple events celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will take place in Berkshire County from Friday, January 17, through Monday, January 20.
King, a Baptist minister and leading figure in the Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated in 1968 at just 39 years old. His message of justice, equality, and nonviolent resistance remains urgently relevant as Americans continue fighting for civil rights.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing a federal holiday to honor King, which was first observed in 1986. By 2000, all 50 states officially recognized the holiday, which is observed on the third Monday of January, near King’s birthday.
Many of the Berkshire County events commemorating King are being organized by Multicultural BRIDGE (Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups through Education).
Founded by Gwendolyn VanSant, who now serves as its CEO, the organization’s mission is to advance “equity and justice by promoting cultural competence, positive psychology, and mutual understanding and acceptance. The organization acts as a catalyst for change through collaboration, education, training, dialogue, fellowship, and advocacy.”
Over the years, Multicultural BRIDGE has provided multiple services and programs for the Berkshire County community, including cultural competence community training, racial justice programming, women’s groups, and other educational support programs for schools and businesses.
In a press release announcing the weekend of events in Berkshire County, VanSant writes:
This year’s MLK Weekend aligns with the King Institute’s national call:
‘Mission Possible, Part II: Building Community and Unification in a Nonviolent Way.’ The weekend is grounded in Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community and brings together worship, mutual aid, service, culture, creative expression, and civic dialogue.
The four-day series of events starts at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 16, at Barrington Hall, where volunteers will pack and deliver food supplies to the community, followed by a community concert at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, January 17, Barrington Hall will host a Children’s AfroBeat Concert at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, January 18, a church service will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church at 11 a.m. A potluck supper will follow the service.
Also on January 18, at Trinity Church at 88 Walker Street in Lenox, the Cantilena Chamber Choir will present its annual Martin Luther King Concert at 3 p.m., with special guests Chorus Angelicus. The suggested donation for the concert is $25 per person.
At 9 a.m. on Monday, January 19, a public reading of King’s speech honoring W.E.B. Du Bois will be held in front of the Du Bois sculpture at the Mason Library in Great Barrington.
BRIDGE will host a day of service throughout town.
At BRIDGE’s Solidarity House, located at 965 Main Street in Great Barrington, there will be various intergenerational activities revolving around the holiday, including a community reading of Brad Meltzer’s book on King, starting at 10:30 a.m.
At 12:30 p.m., the Solidarity House will host a community dialogue on trust, safety, and community.
At 3 p.m, The Triplex will host a screening of the 2019 movie “Harriet,” starring Cynthia Erivo as abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The screening will also include a performance by local musician Wanda Houston.
“Today, we need to recommit to band together and make a commitment to stay connected, engaged, and loud with our values and intentions of safety, peace, and justice,” VanSant said in a speech at last year’s series of events. “Years ago, Rev. King was in a different U.S. than the one we are experiencing now. I am mindful and clear of the resurgence of the U.S.-based systematic cycles responding to the challenge of systems of oppression—these systems that we once and for all need to dismantle.”
The Multicultural BRIDGE programs are all free and open to the public, with transportation available for those in need; however, participants are asked to register here.
Click here for information on tickets to The Triplex’s screening of “Harriet.”
