For more than two decades, the Saint Louis Art Museum has honored the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through an annual free celebration grounded in his vision of unity and his belief that people of all backgrounds could come together as one. From the first celebrations, this annual program was designed not simply as a commemoration, but as a space for shared reflection through art, music, poetry, and conversation. Each year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration invites the community to pause, remember, and be inspired—honoring where we have been, acknowledging how far we still must go, and recommitting ourselves to the work ahead.
The program was founded to celebrate Dr. King while also raising awareness of the Museum’s collection of photographs by Moneta Sleet Jr., a Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist. Sleet’s photographs graced the pages of Ebony and Jet magazines. As a longtime staff photographer for both publications, Sleet documented Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement in ways that brought history directly into Black households across the country. By centering Sleet’s photographs, the Museum grounded the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in images that are not only historically significant, but also deeply familiar—connecting personal memory, collective history, and Dr. King’s enduring legacy.
Dr. King’s speeches were masterful in their rhythm and musicality, rooted in the Black church tradition. That spirit has guided the Saint Louis Art Museum’s celebration since its earliest days, where music and spoken word—from church choirs to poetry—have honored both the solemn realities of the movement and the strength of collective perseverance. This year’s program, centered on youth voices, honors that history while affirming that Dr. King’s dream is carried forward by each new generation…