Brooklyn hosted the year’s first major celebration as local performers and elected officials gathered on stage to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose namesake and legacy were at the heart of the event.
Known as Kings County, Brooklyn stood out by hosting the nation’s largest tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spotlighting its role as a center for honoring the civil rights leader.
Known as Kings County, Brooklyn stood out by hosting the nation’s largest tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spotlighting its role as a center for honoring the civil rights leader.
In celebrating Dr. King, the event also offered sons and daughters from the borough an opportunity to laud his legacy.
The exact location was the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where the 40th annual celebration invited speakers to extol the martyr’s contributions.
The exact location was the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where the 40th annual celebration invited speakers to extol the martyr’s contributions.
While a majority offered a litany of platitudes praising the southern preacher, some, inadvertently, claimed bragging rights to shared beginnings in the county.
Throughout the daylong celebration dedicated to King’s life and legacy, connections to “kingship” added unique relevance to Brooklyn’s tribute.
Throughout the daylong celebration dedicated to King’s life and legacy, connections to “kingship” added unique relevance to Brooklyn’s tribute.
Early in the day, a standing-room-only crowd welcomed Williamsburg-born Brooklyn Borough President Anthony Reynoso.
His salutary remarks focused on the preacher, but guests from his community could not help but acknowledge that the first descendant of Caribbean-Dominican Republic heritage now presides over the entire constituency.
Pride prevailed when Midwood-born Sen. Charles Schumer reiterated a fact that “the only holiday named for an individual” memorializes the Civil Rights martyr.
Pride prevailed when Midwood-born Sen. Charles Schumer reiterated a fact that “the only holiday named for an individual” memorializes the Civil Rights martyr.
In quiet conversations, his listing of the relevance of each American holiday seemed to spotlight an overshadowed aspect that the senior senator annually highlights in his address.
“Dr. King is our only king.”
Irrefutably, the Brooklyn College graduate might have honed his impactful delivery in the county, further connecting personal history to the day’s significance.
Additionally, there was no dispute about the high-placed position of the preacher, husband, and father when Crown Heights-birthed U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries entered the fray.
Then and there, the Brooklyn native scored cool points.
“Dr. King is our only king.”
Irrefutably, the Brooklyn College graduate might have honed his impactful delivery in the county, further connecting personal history to the day’s significance.
Additionally, there was no dispute about the high-placed position of the preacher, husband, and father when Crown Heights-birthed U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries entered the fray.
Then and there, the Brooklyn native scored cool points.
With that said, the entrance of Manhattan-born Public Advocate Jumaane Williams marked a shift in the day’s proceedings, eliciting cheers from the audience.
Supporters of his advocacy contend that, while the politician was allegedly born across the bridges connecting the borough, his being raised in the Caribbean section of Brooklyn gives him bragging rights to claim affiliation.
He touted the celebrant, saying Dr. King was “a revolutionary king.”
Supporters of his advocacy contend that, while the politician was allegedly born across the bridges connecting the borough, his being raised in the Caribbean section of Brooklyn gives him bragging rights to claim affiliation.
He touted the celebrant, saying Dr. King was “a revolutionary king.”
Acclaimed and outspoken, a proponent of fairness, in his address PA Williams restated a commitment to reforming rules regarding immigration.
Later in the day, as he reprised a passage from a sermon Dr. MLK delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the advocate invoked the tone, cadence, and urgency familiar to the Morehouse College student who graduated at age 15.
That achievement defined an emergent Dr. King.
Later in the day, as he reprised a passage from a sermon Dr. MLK delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the advocate invoked the tone, cadence, and urgency familiar to the Morehouse College student who graduated at age 15.
That achievement defined an emergent Dr. King.
Perhaps, with the intention of adding another distinctive attribute of a king, PA Williams combined his recitation with an eloquent reminder that Dr. King had “no quest for notoriety.”
Throughout his presentation, he placed emphasis on nostalgic words, paragraphs, and phrasings, ending with a spirited embodiment that replicated the symbolism associated with the southern Baptist preacher.
Throughout his presentation, he placed emphasis on nostalgic words, paragraphs, and phrasings, ending with a spirited embodiment that replicated the symbolism associated with the southern Baptist preacher.
Following several prominent figures, another neighborhood affiliate introduced City Council member Crystal Hudson, who was born in Prospect Heights.
In hailing Dr. King, she praised his aspirations.
“Freedom is not given…freedom is claimed,” she emphasized.
In hailing Dr. King, she praised his aspirations.
“Freedom is not given…freedom is claimed,” she emphasized.
And Park Slope-born Letitia James, attorney general, invited confrontation, saying: “You can come for me, but you have to go through Brooklyn.”
With that comment, the vociferous lawyer ignited uproarious applause.
To further entice the crowds, she implored patrons to remember the name Renee Good.
With that comment, the vociferous lawyer ignited uproarious applause.
To further entice the crowds, she implored patrons to remember the name Renee Good.
Her reference to a white, 37-year-old American mother of three children who was killed by ICE agents in Minnesota resonated with solemnity.
Three times, she repeatedly urged the audience to “say her name.”
At each juncture, the crowd obliged, shouting the name to the rafters.
After outlining prevailing injustices, AG James admonished listeners to “be fearless.”
Three times, she repeatedly urged the audience to “say her name.”
At each juncture, the crowd obliged, shouting the name to the rafters.
After outlining prevailing injustices, AG James admonished listeners to “be fearless.”
In her advocacy, she extended empathetic support for the transgender and other repressed communities.
She was resolute, determined, and forceful in defining her role as chief prosecutor.
She was resolute, determined, and forceful in defining her role as chief prosecutor.
In fact, upon entering the forum and before she uttered a word, the attorney general received an overwhelmingly warm reception, as evidenced by a standing ovation.
The gesture seemed a display of approval for her victory in civil fraud cases against a president who was not mentioned by name throughout the Brooklyn celebrations.
The crowd seemed to endorse every comment with cheers, applause, and stomps on the conservatory floor.
The gesture seemed a display of approval for her victory in civil fraud cases against a president who was not mentioned by name throughout the Brooklyn celebrations.
The crowd seemed to endorse every comment with cheers, applause, and stomps on the conservatory floor.
Other than claiming a legitimate passport to Brooklyn residency, AG James, with birthright in the borough, stamped an affirming visa to the county of Kings.
Noticing the day’s hometown pride, Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledged this trend early in her address by noting her upstate, Buffalo birthplace.
Noticing the day’s hometown pride, Gov. Kathy Hochul acknowledged this trend early in her address by noting her upstate, Buffalo birthplace.
Needless to say, the primary champion for the state optimized her time by mentioning the plight of striking nurses, Homeland Security raids, and other prevailing atrocities allegedly directed from the White House.
Her message resonated best, though, when she hailed Dr. MLK by denouncing the “self-appointed king” who occupies the ‘under construction’ landmark property.
It was then that an unidentified guest shouted “Alleluia.”
Her message resonated best, though, when she hailed Dr. MLK by denouncing the “self-appointed king” who occupies the ‘under construction’ landmark property.
It was then that an unidentified guest shouted “Alleluia.”
Following the outburst, another individual felt the need to punctuate the initial outcry with a Biblical “amen.”
It seemed that Brooklyn favored the governor.
It seemed that Brooklyn favored the governor.
She was regaled.
By the time 34-year-old Mayor Zohran Mamdani crossed the stage, the day’s enthusiasm had reached a peak, with the crowd endorsing every statement made in tribute to the Civil Rights hero.
Aside from confirming borough-wide victory from a historic feat and meteoric ascent to first citizenry, Mayor Mamdani earned credibility for debuting presence at the largest commemoration held in tribute to the Civil Rights leader.
That the ambitious politician established residency in Queens County and represented the borough in the NY Assembly added repute to his BAM appearance.
Aside from confirming borough-wide victory from a historic feat and meteoric ascent to first citizenry, Mayor Mamdani earned credibility for debuting presence at the largest commemoration held in tribute to the Civil Rights leader.
That the ambitious politician established residency in Queens County and represented the borough in the NY Assembly added repute to his BAM appearance.
Later in the day, the immigrant and first Muslim mayor doubled back to the venue, as if to underscore his commitment to the borough.
“Brooklyn is the place to be.”
“Brooklyn is the place to be.”
Subsequently, Manhattan-born Council Speaker Julie Menin took to the stage, her excitement evident.
She lavished the virtues of the honoree.
As the recently elected first Jewish chief of staff of the New York City Council, she stated her sense of purpose.
As the recently elected first Jewish chief of staff of the New York City Council, she stated her sense of purpose.
As dusk settled in, Harlem-born district attorney Alvin Bragg joined the mayor, two Brooklynites, and Academy Award-nominated, Tony-winning actor Jeffrey Wright for a theatrical reading of the sermon delivered on Feb. 4, 1968.
Already considered a king of his craft, Wright, a Washington, DC native, is not alien to the county and in a scripted delivery, proved his mettle.
Added to a diverse program dominated by New Yorkers, the transplanted Brooklynite dramatized a cautionary message first delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Georgia.
Already considered a king of his craft, Wright, a Washington, DC native, is not alien to the county and in a scripted delivery, proved his mettle.
Added to a diverse program dominated by New Yorkers, the transplanted Brooklynite dramatized a cautionary message first delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Georgia.
Indelibly recorded two months before the untimely death of the drum major for peace and justice, “Drum major instinct” poignantly described undeserving individuals who posture in order to gain recognition and notoriety.
Relevant to the behavior from a current and prominent exhibitor, the words seemed a prophetic auditory to ponder.
At age 35, Dr. King was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was presented the award on Oct. 14, 1964, for his tireless dedication to promoting non-violent resistance.
Relevant to the behavior from a current and prominent exhibitor, the words seemed a prophetic auditory to ponder.
At age 35, Dr. King was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was presented the award on Oct. 14, 1964, for his tireless dedication to promoting non-violent resistance.
On many occasions, Dr. King delivered his own eulogy; however, on one occasion, the preacher opined on his own demise, focusing on impostors.
And in his religious reference, he expressed a millennium reality that now baffles the universe.
“Don’t say I have a Nobel Peace Prize,” Dr. King asked in the 20th century.
“…just say I was a drum major for peace…”
The humbling prophecy resonated with a still-sulking leader who was denied the 2025 Norwegian prize.
And in his religious reference, he expressed a millennium reality that now baffles the universe.
“Don’t say I have a Nobel Peace Prize,” Dr. King asked in the 20th century.
“…just say I was a drum major for peace…”
The humbling prophecy resonated with a still-sulking leader who was denied the 2025 Norwegian prize.
On a Monday in January, BAM combined testimonies akin to worship from a temple, a synagogue, or a church. From its location, the occasion, and the overall presentation, hope was satisfied.
While every speaker mentioned the dedication of the revered celebrant, early in the day, a keynote address by Rev. William Barber II seemed to broach musicology when he ended his message with a rhythmic metaphor typified by Pentecostal ministers.
While every speaker mentioned the dedication of the revered celebrant, early in the day, a keynote address by Rev. William Barber II seemed to broach musicology when he ended his message with a rhythmic metaphor typified by Pentecostal ministers.
It featured the North Carolina preacher and MLK disciple heaving and harmonizing throughout a significant address praising his mentor.
“Dr. King had rhythm and syncopation,” Rev. Barber said in a melodious reference that mimicked his colleague.
As he spoke/sang, an organ injected emphasis into his testimony.
The delivery was riveting, and again the crowd stood in agreement with the parallel.
The presentation concluded with a medley of renditions from a 106-member community choir and band.
As he spoke/sang, an organ injected emphasis into his testimony.
The delivery was riveting, and again the crowd stood in agreement with the parallel.
The presentation concluded with a medley of renditions from a 106-member community choir and band.
Their amplified gospels produced harmonious music, which must now occupy social media space for archival YouTube visuals to revisit.
A solo dancer also provided movements to enhance the messaging.
“It is incredibly clear,” on King Day 2026, there was “No place like Brooklyn,” a speaker said.
“It is incredibly clear,” on King Day 2026, there was “No place like Brooklyn,” a speaker said.
And that was a fact.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 97 years old on Jan. 15.
He was murdered on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.Catch you on the Inside!
He was murdered on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.Catch you on the Inside!
