Honoring the extensive legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Harlem New York - 2026

Free to the public, Sunday January 18, 2026, at 2pm The Apollo Stages at The Victoria with WNYC celebrates the 20th Anniversary annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by partnering again with The Apollo for MLK26: The Pan-Africanist — Restitution & Reconciliation in a Global State of Emergency.  This event will also be recorded and broadcast on WNYC and public radio stations nationally - Monday, January 19 at 3pm & 8pm on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820, and www.wnyc.org, as well as on public radio stations across the country and on WNYC and The Apollo’s YouTube channels.” (https://www.apollotheater.org/event/mlk26-the-pan-africanist)

The partnership with The Apollo for MLK26 marks the inaugural event at the new Apollo stages within the Victoria Theater.

Anchored in the historic moment of Dr. King’s 1957 journey to Ghana, the program traces King’s vision and commitment to global liberation to the modern-day call for justice.

Through conversation, performance, and reflection, this year’s gathering connects the struggle against colonialism and segregation to today’s fights for equity, freedom, and dignity across the African Diaspora. Together, we examine restitution and reconciliation not as lofty ideals, but as urgent imperatives, linking Accra to Atlanta, the global past to our shared present. (https://www.apollotheater.org/event/mlk26-the-pan-africanist)

The true significance and social relevance of this timely event is a genuine highlight for the Harlem Community. It presents an opportunity for everyone to enjoy, experience, and continue to elevate together.

The conversation will be hosted by WNYC’s Michael Hill, Brian Lehrer, and Janae Pierre, along with WQXR’s Terrance McKnight in collaboration with March On! Festival. (https://www.apollotheater.org/event/mlk26-the-pan-africanist)

Additionally, Monday, January 19, 2026, at 3pm The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, Apollo Education invites the community to join this year’s MLK Young Changemakers event that places Dr. King’s powerful legacy into contextual modernities honorarily utilizing a series of conversations in recognition of Dr. King’s impact and the National Youth Day of Service.

The MLK Young Changemakers event by The Apollo Apprentices features emerging community leaders and activists in a panel discussion anticipated to be highly motivational, intuitive and insightful sharing the unique ways young people can harness their talents to affect change and serve their communities, all while honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as well as the National Day of Service. (https://www.apollotheater.org/event/mlk-young-changemakers-26)

The Apollo website and invitation cite the Martin Luther King Jr. quote “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.” from his essay "The Purpose of Education," literary works that highlights the vital role(s) that education fosters in the development of critical thinking, moral judgment, media literacy to ensure the development of intellect and character preventing people from becoming meager or mere vessels for propaganda.

‍Written by: Danyal Sorel