Lexington commemorates a legacy of equality, justice and service with MLK Day celebration

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 17, 2025) — For more than 50 years, the city of Lexington, in partnership with the University of Kentucky and community partners, has celebrated the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy with one of the longest-running MLK Day observances in the nation. This year, on Jan. 20, thousands will once again gather to honor King’s enduring vision for equality, justice and selfless service — values that are just as vital today as they were during his lifetime.

King’s legacy goes far beyond the Civil Rights Movement. His leadership, marked by courageous action and a commitment to nonviolence in the face of systemic oppression, continues to guide us in the ongoing struggle for equality. This year’s theme — “Where Do We Go From Here?” — is drawn from King’s final book, which serves as a call to reflect on the future of racial justice and collective responsibility.

A celebration of legacy and continuity

The MLK Day celebration will feature a dynamic program that not only honors King’s memory but also uplifts those who have followed in his footsteps. The First Baptist Bracktown Praise Team will provide musical performances, while emcee Christian Motley leads the ceremony. Speakers include Gov. Andy Beshear, Mayor Linda Gorton, UK President Eli Capilouto and poet Frank X Walker.

A poignant moment in the program will offer a tribute by longtime Lexington residents Regina and Steven Harris to the late poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, who was scheduled to give this year’s keynote address before her untimely passing in December.

Keynote address: A call to action

This year’s keynote speaker, the Rev. Nyle Fort, will challenge the community to reflect on how to resist oppression and create a more just society, just as King did throughout his life. Fort, an advocate for justice and a scholar of religion and interdisciplinary humanities, has written for major outlets such as The Guardian and The Boston Globe and is the author of “There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis.” Fort is currently on the African American Studies Department faculty at Columbia University.

Reflecting on progress, embracing the future

The MLK Day celebration serves as both a moment of reflection and a call to action. Chester Grundy, co-chair emeritus of the MLK Day committee, reminds the community that King’s work is far from over.

“One of the greatest lessons we can take from Dr. King’s legacy is that this work is ongoing,” Grundy said. “We cannot afford to rest in our efforts to move toward a more just and compassionate society. As Dr. King often said, ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ Now, more than ever, we must rededicate ourselves to bending that arc — together.”

Honoring King’s legacy every day

Lexington’s commitment to King’s ideals extends beyond the annual celebration. The city is dedicated to embedding his values of equity, justice and inclusion into the fabric of everyday life. This year’s observance will spotlight local initiatives that focus on advancing education, supporting underserved communities and fostering an environment where all people are treated with dignity and respect.

“Since its inception back in 1973, Lexington’s MLK Holiday observance has been absolutely remarkable,” Grundy said. “It has grown to be a cherished community-wide tradition drawing participation from across Central Kentucky and beyond. More importantly, it has remained true to its intent of projecting a more complicated, sometimes more challenging representation of the MLK Legacy, something often missing in our contemporary telling of Dr. King’s story.

“My hope is that it will continue to grow in its participation and support,” Grundy continued. “Still, we must not mistake our participation in this one inspirational day as a substitute for the REAL work before us — the work of organizing and giving service to groups, projects and programs that move us closer to Dr. King’s grand vision of the Beloved Community.”

Residents, visitors and organizations alike are welcome to participate in this historic celebration. Whether through acts of service, moments of reflection or a renewed commitment to justice, each individual has the opportunity to make a difference.

For additional information about the celebration, visit www.uky.edu/mlk. 

All participants on Monday are welcome to pre-stage before the march in the Central Bank Center on the first floor in the ballroom foyer. The Freedom March will begin and end on Vine Street right at the merge of the streets at Triangle Park. 

The commemorative program will follow directly after the march at 2 p.m.

Stay updated on event details by following the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LexingtonMLKHoliday.

‘Behind the Blue’

MLK Day planning committee member Ja’Mahl McDaniel, director of UK’s Martin Luther King Center, joined this week’s “Behind the Blue” podcast to discuss the upcoming celebration. You can listen to the podcast above. 

“Behind the Blue” is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue,” email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.