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Africana Studies

‘Mecca is Burning’ play mixes drama, poetry at the Annenberg Center
Composite photo of “Mecca is Burning" cast members

The cast of “Mecca is Burning.” Top row, left to right: Steven Peacock Jacoby, Kenya Wilson, Imana Breaux, Benjamin Rowe; bottom row, left to right: Ashlee Danielle, Alyssa Carter, Alton Ray, and Yohanna Florentino.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Live Arts)

‘Mecca is Burning’ play mixes drama, poetry at the Annenberg Center

“Mecca is Burning,” a commissioned piece that will world premiere at the Annenberg Center this weekend, is a two-act play that takes an artful—but candid—look at race in the U.S.
‘Fight for it:’ Nikole Hannah-Jones on abolition, reparation, and building a more just future
Sarah J. Jackson and Nikole Hannah-Jones at the 2023 MLK Lecture in social justice

“You can’t get a colorblind society until you’ve addressed all of the effects of a race-specific society,” said Nikole Hannah-Jones in conversation with Sarah J. Jackson. “What the 1619 Project is trying to do is to really complexify and subvert these myths about America.” (Image: Eddy Marenco)

‘Fight for it:’ Nikole Hannah-Jones on abolition, reparation, and building a more just future

Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning journalist and author of the 1619 Project, delivered the 22nd annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in Social Justice on Jan. 25 in conversation with Sarah Jackson of the Annenberg School for Communication.

Kristina García

‘Embodying love’ at the Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Commemoration
A man speaks at a podium with a woman waiting behind him. The screen says "An Interfaith Commemoration of the Life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Graduate student Ayo Aladesanmi spoke about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. (Image: Damien Townsville)

‘Embodying love’ at the Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Commemoration

At the Interfaith Commemoration and award ceremony, student speakers and performers reflected on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and six Penn community members were honored for working towards positive social change.

Kristina García

The 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is back in person
Walkers cup lit candles with mittened hands as snow falls on College Hall

The 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will conclude with a candlelight vigil including songs and quotations from King. (Image: University of Pennsylvania/Flickr)

The 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is back in person

With lectures, community service projects, and informational events, the Day of Service and Commemorative Symposium unites the Penn community through social change.

Kristina García