Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Burlington plans on celebrating the iconic civil rights leader with two events.
First, a 30-minute concert will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Southeastern Community College’s Harry and Virginia Murray Art Gallery at 1500 W. Agency Road in West Burlington.
Southeastern Community College music instructor and advisor Daniel Pappas will host the concert honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and everyone is invited — not just students.
Pappas is honoring MLK Jr. with pieces inspired by the civil rights movement, including John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” based on the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Ala.; Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” from his groundbreaking composition Black, Brown, and Beige; “Strange Fruit,” performed most famously by Billie Holiday about the lynchings in the South; and Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom,” an anthem for world peace.
A Burlington Tradition
Hope Community Church at 314 N. Third St. will host Burlington’s 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. event at 5 p.m. Monday, which is open to the public.
The event, organized by parishioners of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, is about unity and understanding.
Orville Jones, pastor for First Baptist Church in Quincy, Ill., will be the keynote speaker. Former Burlington Mayor Shane McCampbell and city and school officials also will deliver remarks.
The evening will include music from Burlington area churches, as well as a light meal. Everyone is encouraged to bring a covered dish, salad or dessert to share.
The event is sponsored by the Burlington Area Council of Churches, Burlington Human Rights Commission, and the Burlington branch of the NAACP.
SCC Students to Engage in Unity Walk
To further honor Martin Luther King Jr., students at the SCC campuses in West Burlington and Keokuk students will present King’s most memorable speeches in the cafeteria. That will be followed by a Unity Walk around the campuses for students, faculty, and staff to show their support for racial equality.
Celebrating MLK Jr. In Keokuk
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also will be honored at 6 p.m. Monday at New Bethel Church, 1217 Morgan Street in Keokuk.
The annual event is sponsored by the Keokuk Association for Rights and Equality (KARE).
This year’s speaker is Rev. Abraham Funchess, pastor of Jubilee United Methodist Church in Waterloo and Human Rights Director of the city of Waterloo.
Rev. Funchess will speak about the life of King, who worked tirelessly as the leader of civil rights in the 1950′s and 1960′s and inspired generations of people to continue the work.
A dinner will follow the program, and the event is open to the public.