The Apollo Theater & WNYC to Present ‘MLK and the Fierce Urgency of Now!’

 

By Goli Sheikholeslami, President and CEO, New York Public Radio

Dear friend,

Last week, a sitting US President incited an armed attack on the US Capitol. Next week, a new President will be sworn in, on the steps of the very same building. As our lawmakers rush forward toward an unprecedented second impeachment, the country is bracing for more conflict and possible violence.

In the midst of so much chaos, we also approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one of the most profound and sacred observances in our national consciousness.

Stated simply, our nation is at a crossroads. And in the days ahead, we must decide who we want to be—as Americans, New Yorkers, and world citizens.

The events of the past weeks have laid painfully bare what we’ve known for quite some time. The fabric of our society is fraying, worn thin by staggering polarization, inequality, and the systemic racism that shapes who is served by our institutions, and who is harmed by them.

As a public service journalism organization, WNYC is committed to being there for our community. We’re fostering empathy in the face of hate, countering lies with blunt facts, and creating spaces for conversation and reflection—to remind us of our shared values. Every day, we’re working to rebuild our humanity and fortify our bruised democracy.

This Monday, we’re partnering with the Apollo Theater to present MLK and the Fierce Urgency of Now!, the 15th anniversary of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. WNYC’s Jami Floyd, Brian Lehrer, and Tanzina Vega will be interviewing a host of brilliant leaders and thinkers—including Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, Rep. James Clyburn, Letitia James, and Nikole Hannah-Jones. The broadcast special, airing on The Takeaway at 9 a.m. on AM 820 and 3 p.m. on 93.9 FM, will feature a timely conversation about the 2020 elections, as seen through the lens of the civil rights movement and contemporary struggles for racial and social justice. I hope you’ll join us.

This will be a year of rebuilding and recovery. Of imagining a better future, and working hard to bring it into being. And while there will of course be many challenging days ahead, we’re committed to staying by your side—to give you hope, information, and tools to help you meet them.

With gratitude,