Several events are planned in Aurora on Monday to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday honoring the legendary Civil Rights leader.
The city of Aurora will continue a four-decades-long tradition of honoring King’s life during the 40th annual MLK Ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane in Aurora.
The ceremony in Aurora is free to attend, but registration is required at www.aurora-il.org/MLK2025
The 40th anniversary ceremony’s theme is based on King’s fourth and final book, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?”
Noted professor and author Michael Eric Dyson will be the keynote speaker during the event.
The Centennial Chair at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Dyson also serves as the university’s Distinguished Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies in the College of Arts and Science and its Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society in the Divinity School.
The author of 21 books, including literary works about Barack Obama, Tupac Shakur and Malcolm X, Dyson has written extensively about King and penned two books about his life and legacy, according to a press release about the event on Monday.
The ceremony will also feature remarks by dignitaries, youth and adult performances and a presentation of the Donna J. Williams MLK Service Awards and the Services Above Self MLK Youth Awards, officials said.
Also on Monday, the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance is inviting the public to its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, 730 Gillette Ave. in Aurora.
The morning event will feature dedicated prayer segments followed by a complimentary breakfast, organizers said.
Reservations are requested and space is limited, officials said. To reserve a spot, call Peggy Hicks at 630-291-7681, 630-849-5415 or email psuehicks@sbcglobal.net, or call the Rev. J.E. Burch at 815-715-6465 or email pastorburch@aol.com
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will welcome historian and author Erik S. McDuffie as a special guest for her weekly series, “Coffee with Kiffy,” in honor of Martin Luther King Day.
The virtual event will take place at 9 a.m. Monday and will be broadcast live on Facebook. Those interested in taking part are encouraged to RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/share/15ZCsh8ecp/.
“I am honored to host Professor McDuffie for this important conversation on Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Kifowit in a press release about the virtual event. “His research sheds light on the rich history of Black activism in our region and offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. I look forward to sharing this dialogue with my constituents.”
McDuffie, an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will discuss his new book, “The Second Battle for Africa,” which explores the Midwest’s critical role in shaping 20th-century global Black history, according to the release.
