MLK Day 2021: Events In And Around Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, AL — Although the coronavirus pandemic has altered the scheduling and format of many Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations this year, plenty of events are still on for 2021 in and around Birmingham.
Here are just a few events celebrating the life of MLK:
Saturday. Jan. 16:
2021 MLK Day 5K Drum Run
This year’s fifth annual race will not be in person. Instead, organizers are encouraging participants to run a 5K on their own on Jan. 16 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Participants should then report their run time to organizers.
Annually, the race features a lineup of Birmingham-area drumline musicians who perform along the race route to motivate runners and walkers. Because the race is not being held in person this year, organizers will release a drumline soundtrack for runners and walkers to listen to on Jan. 16. The soundtrack’s MP3 format will be available on Jan. 15 for participants to download.
Those on the soundtrack include: Ramsay High School’s drumline; Freestyle Percussion Foundation; Exposure Drumline Foundation and Sahi On Ko Djony.
The cost to participate is $35. Race proceeds will benefit the drumlines and community organizations participating in the run. The race website is available for registration, volunteer sign up and sponsorship. For more information, please contact Herman Mannings III at 470-444-9844.
Brothers and Bow Ties:
Join the Birmingham Public Library at 10 a.m. for this virtual event on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. as a panel of adult men from across metro Birmingham share words of encouragement for males between the ages of 11 and 18. The event will be held on the library’s Facebook page. No registration is necessary.
Cedric D. Sparks, chief of staff for the City of Birmingham, will serve as host and moderator of the event. Also, BPL is seeking donations of hats, gloves, coats, masks, tote bags, soup, sandwiches and other items to be distributed to those in need on Monday, January 18 at 10 a.m., while supplies last. It will be held at the downtown library location as part of the MLK Day of Service activities. Cars will need to drive through in order to collect the donations. For more information, please call 205-226-3741.
Birmingham Islamic Society MLK Day of Service
The Birmingham Islamic Society, Girls Thrive for Islam (BIS youth group), and the Islamic Circle of North America Relief (ICNA Relief) will host an “MLK Day of Service” at the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center (2524 Hackberry Lane, Hoover, AL 35226) beginning at 11 a.m.
Volunteers from the Muslim community will distribute free hot meals, hygiene products, and some limited clothing to support others in the community going through hard times. Anyone is welcome to stop by with no questions asked. This is based on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to serving our community.
MLK Day of Service is designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. It is a God given duty upon us to be of service to our brothers and sisters in humanity.
Sunday, Jan. 17:
Negro Southern League Museum Celebration
The Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum will celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Negro Leagues on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 6 pm. Register for the 100th anniversary online celebration of the Negro Leagues presented by The Negro Southern League Museum here.
Monday, Jan. 18:
MLK and Kiwanis Club of Birmingham Day of Service
This event, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., will help with needed maintenance projects, including the cleaning of the area, steps and walkways near Centennial Plaza, sanding and repainting of handrails, and trail clean up. This MLK day of service activity will be held in person, outside and in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
MLK Invitational
High school student-athletes will compete in the MLK Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex, 2337 Bessemer Road. The event will start at 7 a.m. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this year’s set up will be a little different. A choir will not perform nor will there be the annual Unity Walk around the track. However, a tribute video to Martin Luther King Jr. will be played before each session starts. There will be four sessions of competition. Those times are:
Session 1 will be from 7 to 10 a.m.
Session 2 will be from 11 a.m. to 2 pm
Session 3 will be from 3 to 6 p.m.
Session 4 will be from 7 to 10 p.m.
Admission will be charged. Adults: $10 per session; 65 years and older: $5 per session; students are free. Questions? Call MLK Meet Director Devon Hind at 205-807-9144.
MLK Free Day at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Rather than a day filled with on-site live performances, they’ll maintain its existing timed ticketing and operational structure as well as museum features on January 18.
While tickets will be free, they must be reserved online in order to limit attendance and promote social distancing.
For more info, contact cwoods@bcri.org
Justice in the Beloved Community: A Conversation on A Time to Break Silence
This Facebook Live event begins at 6 p.m.
The conversation will center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon, “A Time to Break Silence.’’ Cameron Thomas, director of Diversity Enrichment and Relations at Samford University, will moderate this virtual discussion. The two speakers will be (tentatively) Dr. Joseph Scrivner of Stillman College and Dr. Piotr Malysz of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. Together, they will discuss equity, justice and community. For more information, contact Jenee Spencer bspencer@samford.edu.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Food Drive with Half-Price Admission at the Birmingham Zoo
In the spirit of service, the Birmingham Zoo will host a food drive in partnership with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. Guests who bring a non-perishable or canned food item, will receive half-priced admission to the Zoo.
Limit one admission ticket per guest.
Know of any other MLK event? Please feel free to add them in the comments below!
This article originally appeared on the Birmingham Patch
