Hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte to headline Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Columbus
Columbus officials are watching the weather as hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte is set to headline the free 2025 Dream Lives: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration this weekend.
Free celebratory events for MLK Day in Columbus will take place throughout the city on Saturday and Monday.
“We look forward to this event each year,” said Mayor Skip Henderson in a news release. “It allows us, toward the beginning of the year, to be reminded of Dr. King’s grace, humility, and leadership.”
With rain expected on Saturday, Henderson and other officials are watching the weather forecast and may determine a “Plan B” for outdoor events, Kimberly Tharp, executive assistant to the mayor, told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Saturday’s events
On Saturday, Dream Lives kicks off at 9 a.m. with an outdoor informal program at the Government Center.
Then a symbolic march procession will begin at 9:30 a.m., starting at the Government Center and walking down 9th Street to the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.
The program will carry into the formal program featuring MC Lyte at the Trade Center.
MC Lyte rose to popularity in the 1980s and ‘90s, becoming the first solo female solo rapper to have a song, Ruffneck, certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1993. The rap pioneer was among the honorees at the 2006 VH1 Hip Hop Honors.
She later co-founded Hip Hop Sisters Network with Dr. Felicia Shaw and Dr. Lynn Richardson. The nonprofit aims to enhance and promote positive imagery of women in hip-hop while providing mentorships, educational opportunities, financial empowerment and advancements in health and wellness.
Hip Hop Sisters provides national and international support for social justice and cultural diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
During the MLK Day celebration in Columbus, MC Lyte will guide attendees through reflections, music and community engagement, according to a news release.
A discussion moderated by Tacara Hemingway, featuring MC Lyte, Sherricka Day, Tracey Mosley, DJ Cashflow and Lakendra Huckaby will be part of the 10 a.m. program.
“We are excited to come together as a community to honor Dr. King’s legacy and renew our commitment to his vision of equality and justice,” said event chair Dr. Ron Williams. “With MC Lyte being featured at the event, we anticipate a day filled with inspiration, unity, and a call to action for all.”
At 2 p.m., Dream Lives events will start its annual bicycle ride. The casually paced group bike ride will explore important Black cultural and historic sites along the route using a combination of public roads and the Martin Luther King Jr. Trail.
It will begin at the Muscogee County School District Building. Like all Dream Lives events, the bike ride will be free. However, participants are asked to register and sign an online waiver.
Monday’s events
On Monday, Keep Columbus Beautiful and Turn Around Columbus are partnering for a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Serve-A-Thon.
This will be the 8th annual community cleanup of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outdoor Learning Trail from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday.
Volunteers should gather at the front of Carver High School or A.J. McClung YMCA by 10 a.m. Participants will begin the cleanup from the two meeting points and end at Turn Around Columbus’ George Washington Carver Victory Garden and Farm at 1830 Shepherd Dr.
Chester’s BBQ will provide lunch after the cleanup, and volunteers will head back to their starting locations by walking or taking the available shuttle.
The MLK Day Unity Service is also set for Monday at 12 p.m. at the Metropolitan Baptist Church. Virgil Miller, president of Aflac, will join Leading Lady Lesha Crocker and Senior Pastor Dr. Curtis Crocker as a guest speaker during the service.
Another bike ride is planned after the service that will begin at the church at 2 p.m. and take a route along the MLK Walking Trail.
“As a community, we want to pause not only to remind us of the legacy but to discuss the work that needs to be done,” said Tracey Mosley, president & CEO of Urban League of the River Valley.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 1:00 AM.
