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Apollo Theater explores MLK’s legacy and modern injustice in annual tribute
By
Arun Venugopal
Published Jan 19, 2025
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By
Arun Venugopal
Published Jan 19, 2025
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The Apollo Theater hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day tribute on Sunday, bringing together notable voices to reflect on Dr. King’s teachings and their enduring relevance to systemic racism in America.
The event, titled, “A Burning House – MLK and the American Experiment,” was presented by WNYC and the Apollo. It featured powerful discussions about Northern segregation, collective responsibility and the urgent need for justice in contemporary society. The program included performances and discussions, with activist Rashad Robinson, the former president of the racial equity group Color of Change, critiquing philanthropy’s role in masking systemic injustices.
Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College and author of an upcoming book, "King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South," said King’s experiences in New York, Boston and other Northern cities strongly shaped his understanding of systemic racism, which extended beyond the South.
Dr. King, said Theoharis, understood that some dimensions of segregation had originated in the North.
"The tools of school segregation began in places like New York and Boston before the Civil War."
Theoharis recounted an incident from King’s early years, after he graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta and attended Crozer Seminary in Pennsylvania. One night, King and his friends went to a bar in Maple Shade, N.J., shortly after the state passed an anti-discrimination law.
“They cite that law,” she said, “and the owner kicks them out at gunpoint.”
WNYC's Janae Pierre looks on as activist Rashad Robinson sits with Christina Greer.
Herb Pinder/Gothamist
Other panelists reflected on how Dr. King had shaped their lives and work.
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, the senior minister at New York City’s Middle Collegiate Church, recalled being an 8-year-old in Chicago when King was assassinated in 1968. His murder sparked acts of arson and gunfire in her neighborhood.
“And those fires frightened me as a child,” she said. “I hid under my bed from fire and gun-shooting. But I felt that day that I was called to be a drum major for peace.”
Jonathan McCrory, the artistic director of the National Black Theatre, addressed the Greek concept of agape, which he defined as “a love that builds, that bellows, that grows in understanding.”
“[The year] 2025 will be a moment of choosing where you invest your time,” said McCrory, “and where you give your grace, where you allow for your love to flow.”
Christina Greer, a political science professor at Fordham University, emphasized that King’s work extended beyond advocating for poor Black Americans.
“He also mobilized poor white people,” said Greer.
She noted that King’s message is relevant today for U.S.-born men and women who blame immigrants for their struggles.
“It's not because of new immigrants,” said Greer. “It's because of multinational corporations shipping their jobs overseas."
Theoharis reflected on how King would view today’s challenges, saying he would urge people to focus on the “fire closer to home,” particularly in New York City politics and policies.
Critiquing recent decisions by city and state leaders, she noted that Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams pushed for “more police on the subways as opposed to dealing with people's actual needs.”
“I think one of the things that makes Dr. King so courageous is that he called out Northern liberals to be liberal at home,” she said, adding that he protested both Democrats and Republicans. “I think he would be asking us to both look at Washington and at New York City.”
Looking ahead, Lewis urged activists to “be honest to build a just society.”
Tagged
new york city
Race And Justice Unit
manhattan
Arun Venugopal
Arun Venugopal is a senior reporter for the WNYC and Gothamist Race & Justice Unit who focuses on issues of race and bias in our region. His reporting also tackles the topics of immigration, faith, and inequality. Arun serves as the regular fill-in host of the station's "U.S. of Anxiety" program. Arun was the creator and host of Micropolis, a series about race and identity. He is a contributor to NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered. He has appeared on PBS Newshour, On the Media and Studio 360, and has been published in The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal and Salon. He also frequently serves as an emcee and moderator of panel discussions on race, religion, and identity issues and has been a guest host of NPR's "Fresh Air." He lives with his family in Queens.
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