Martin Luther King Jr. Tour to the Kennedy Center

January 11, 2004, Washington, DC
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer: Jennifer Archibeque
Telephone: 202-504-6319, Email:jennifera@state.gov

The Washington Foreign Press Center organized a tour for foreign journalists to the Kennedy Center where they listened to "The Choral Arts Society of Washington's Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."  The tour, which took place prior to Dr. King's birthday which is celebrated on January 19, highlighted Dr. King's significance to the Civil Rights Movement.  The Choral Arts Society also honored civil rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height at the event.  Height is one of the "Big Six" civil rights leaders and was the only woman at the table when Dr. King and others planned the movement.  A professional emcee talked about Dr. King's works as a civil rights leader between performances by folk legend Odetta, the Mass Choir of Saint Paul's Baptist Church, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and the Sandtown Children of Praise.  The tour contributed to journalists' cultural understanding of the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King's significance to that movement.