A beloved annual concert, Let Freedom Ring, is leaving its long-time home at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This event, a tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., has been a Washington, D.C. staple for over two decades. But this year, it's moving to a new venue, and the reasons behind this relocation are both practical and political.
Let Freedom Ring has hosted iconic performers like Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, backed by a choir of local talent from D.C. churches and Georgetown University. However, the 2025 edition, featuring actor and rapper Common, will not grace the Kennedy Center stage.
Georgetown University, the event's producer, cites financial savings as the reason for the move to Howard Theatre, a historic D.C. venue. But there's more to the story, as Marc Bamuthi, the former artistic director for social impact at the Kennedy Center, explains.
"It's hypocritical to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for justice and equity at a venue whose administration is anti-equity," Bamuthi asserts. This sentiment is a direct response to President Trump's criticism of the Kennedy Center's programming as "woke" and his executive orders calling for an end to diversity in cultural offerings.
In February 2025, Trump took control of the Kennedy Center, appointing new leadership and dissolving the social media division. Bamuthi and his team were laid off shortly after.
Nolan Williams Jr., the music producer for Let Freedom Ring since 2003, agrees with the decision to move. "We celebrate the past and its impact, but we must also move forward," he says. Williams has written a new piece for this year's event, titled "Just Like Selma," inspired by King's famous quote about the moral universe bending towards justice.
"The quote is often interpreted passively," Williams explains. "We must actively move and bend the arc of justice. The song's lyrics, including 'protest,' 'resist,' and 'fight hate,' remind us of our responsibility to be agents of change."
The Kennedy Center's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. next week will feature The Missionary Kings of Harmony from The United House of Prayer for All People's Anacostia congregation.
This relocation of Let Freedom Ring raises questions about the role of art and cultural institutions in promoting social justice and equity. What do you think? Should art and culture be used as tools for social change, or are they separate entities? Share your thoughts in the comments!
