Racial Equity Buddies is proud to join with the Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4, and Disciples Church to offer - free of charge -  a musical program that explores the allyship between Martin Luther King and Mahalia Jackson.  You are invited to join us on Sunday afternoon, April 28, at 3 pm at Disciples Church, 3663 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights for this performance led by professional musicians and performers. It is free and open to all. Please respond to this email,  if you intend to attend.

 This program explores the friendship of Mahalia and Dr. King. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Mahalia does not receive the recognition that Harry Belafonte and other male artists who worked with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received. Yet, arguably, she was closer and more supportive of his work, than any of the other more credited artists. 

Mahalia's Contribution to the "I Have A Dream Speech". 

Dr. King's most famous speech, given on Aug. 28, 1963 at the March on Washington did not include nor reference Dr. King's dream. It was while delivering his remarks, that Mahalia shouted and exhorted him to "Tell them about the dream, Martin". Trusting Mahalia's instincts completely, Martin put his prepared remarks to the side and ad-libbed what would become his most famous oratory and delivered "I Have A Dream". 

Reflecting on that moment, King speaking to Mahalia said “When I got up to speak, I was already happy. I couldn’t help preaching. Millions of people all over this country have said it was my greatest hour. I do not know, but if it was, you, more than any single person, helped to make it so.”

About Mahalia                                                                                 "As the granddaughter of an enslaved person, Jackson was committed to the civil rights movement, contributing financially as well. “I have hopes that my singing will break down some of the hate and fear that divide the white and Black people in this country,” she had said.                                                                        As an international star known as the “Queen of Gospel Music,” who had sold out her Carnegie Hall concerts in New York City, she attended the 1956 National Baptist Convention, where she first met King.

Soon King started asking her to join him at civil rights events around the country over the next years, including the Montgomery bus boycott, the third anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom and Southern Christian Leadership Conference fundraisers.

https://www.biography.com/musicians/mahalia-jackson-i-have-a-dream-influence