Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Featured Exhibit | With Liberty and Justice for All
Explore the proud and often painful evolution of American freedom, from the Revolutionary War through the struggle for civil rights, in this groundbreaking exhibit.

THF Connect App Tour
Download the THF Connect App to take the self-guided Stories of Black Empowerment tour through the museum.

Musical Performance | Denzel Donald Voices
Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Monday, January 20 at 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Located in the Museum Plaza

Throughout history, music was not only used for entertainment. This is especially true in the tradition of the Black church. Join the Denzel Donald Voices for a display of the music that led from the church house to the courthouse and everywhere in between.

Musical Performance | "The Queen of Gospel: Music of Mahalia Jackson"
Sunday, January 19 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Museum Plaza

Mahalia Jackson's music fortified the Civil Rights Movement with songs of hope and purpose. In this live performance, singer Rosa Warner-Jones — nominated for best gospel artist at the Detroit Black Music Awards — performs a selection of Jackson's most well-known pieces.

Live Performance | Words of Freedom: Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, January 20 at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the Museum Plaza

Join us for four live performances by actor Tony Lucas as he recites some of Dr. King's most famous speeches.

Original Play | “The Beginnings of the Boycott”
Monday, January 20 at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Museum Plaza.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for defying segregation on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. In response, the Women’s Political Council organized a one-day boycott on the day of her trial where 40,000 Black citizens — the majority of the city’s bus riders — refused to use the system in protest of Parks’ arrest. A one-day boycott sent a message but wasn't enough to achieve the real change that civil rights leaders knew was possible.

This original play brings visitors inside the discussion with Parks, E.D. Nixon, Jo Ann Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as they strategize an initiative with greater impact. What would be the cost to Black passengers if they extended the boycott for potentially months or years? Was that cost able to be endured for a future where Black passengers would be treated with respect?

The Rebellious Life of Ms. Rosa Parks (2022)
Monday, January 20 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Adapted from author Dr. Jeanne Theoharis' political biography of Rosa Parks, The Rebellious life of Mrs. Rosa Parks is a comprehensive telling of the icon's lifelong dedication to activism. Premiering at Tribeca Film Festival in 2022, the documentary chronicles Rosa Parks' historic role in the Montgomery bus boycott, her work in politics alongside Congressman John Conyers in Detroit, and the many causes along the way — such as voting rights and reparations — that she fearlessly championed until her death in 2005.

Admission for both screenings is free in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Seats will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.