MLK Night of Culture

Call for Artists Interested in Performing at 2025 MLK Night of Culture at Two Mississippi Museums

Artists interested in showcasing their talent at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson are encouraged to apply for the annual MLK Night of Culture program that will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2025. Applications are open for those who would like to perform spoken word, sing, dance, or perform an artistic piece. This year’s theme focuses on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in honor of the 60th anniversary of its passage. This program is made possible by generous funding from FedEx and will be streamed live on the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum's Facebook page. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, December 15! Apply at https://bit.ly/3Cv0lXA.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s involvement in Mississippi includes attending the funeral of NAACP state field secretary Medgar Evers in 1963, visiting Greenwood in support of Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, and testifying in support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party during the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

For more information, call 601-576-6781 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

Read more about MLK Night of Culture

Join us at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 16, for the annual MLK Night of Culture at the Two Mississippi Museums. This year's theme is inspired by the Black Empowerment gallery of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum which highlights the unity and determination of Black Mississippians demanding their civil rights in the late 1960s. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, email info@mdah.ms.gov.

FedEx to Sponsor Free MLK Day at State History, Civil Rights Museums

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), the world’s largest express transportation company, is supporting free admission to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History on Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The museums will also be free on Sunday, January 16.

“We are grateful to FedEx for their continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

“At FedEx, we believe that when we connect people and possibilities, we can change the world,” said Rose Flenorl, manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx Services. "We are proud to support free public admission to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History, to help visitors connect with Dr. King’s legacy, and leave inspired to drive positive changes of their own.”

The museums will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, January 17. Museum hours for Sunday, January 16, are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Safety precautions at the museums include requiring all visitors to wear face masks and observe social distancing guidelines while inside the building.

At 6 p.m. on Monday, January 17, join us for the annual MLK Night of Culture program in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums. This year’s theme is “Those Who Stayed,” inspired by the stories of the individuals who remained in Mississippi during the Great Migration, a population movement of African Americans who left their homes to seek better opportunities in the northern and western states in response to racial injustice in the rural South. The event is free and includes live poetry and performances by Jackson State University’s MADDRAMA theatre troupe, Hinds Community College’s MONTAGE Theatre of Dance, and other featured artists. Seating is limited. The event will also be streamed live on the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Facebook page.

Dr. King’s involvement in Mississippi included attending the funeral of NAACP state field secretary Medgar Evers in 1963, visiting Greenwood in support of Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, and testifying in support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) during the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.