On Monday, Donald Trump will be sworn into the White House for a second presidential term. In both 2017 and 2021, inauguration broadcasts drew in over 30 million viewers.
This year, however, many Black people around the country are seeking an alternative to watching the inauguration. Some say they’re doing so in the name of self care and preserving mental health.
The inauguration happens to fall on the federal holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). From its inception, MLK Day has been a time to uplift the legacy of his work through community service and volunteering, especially within Black communities. Chicago’s first Black mayor, the late Harold Washington led the push to commemorate King’s birthday while serving as an Illinois state representative.
Around the country, Black people will be prioritizing Dr. King’s legacy, and promoting safety from extremists during the transition of presidential powers.
For example, in Washington D.C., where the inauguration will take place, dating and social app BLK will host #BLKFreedomWeekend ahead of the inauguration, providing flight credits to ten DC residents to escape the city during inauguration weekend.
In Chicago, organizers and community builders are providing plenty of alternatives: from protests to family-friendly activities. Here are a few events taking place in Chicago on Monday. (Editor’s Note: This is not an exhaustive list, btw).
at Soldier Field.
PUSH for Excellence and Rainbow PUSH Coalition Annual Dr. King Breakfast
Time & Place: 8:00 a.m. at Soldier Field United Club Levels 1 & 3 (1410 Special Olympics Dr., Chicago)
PUSH’s 36th annual King Breakfast will honor the civil rights leader and the impactful work of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. Community leaders and elected officials will also be in attendance, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Tickets are sold out, but PUSH is hosting more events throughout the weekend. Visit rainbowpush.org for more details.
2025 MLK Day: Virtual Conversation with Shermann “Dilla” Thomas
Time & Place: 9:00 a.m., online
For the history enthusiasts, this virtual webinar is sure to unveil a swath of new information about the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King, and more. Chicago’s urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is a beloved expert in local history, and will be sharing his knowledge with the masses through this webinar. If you miss Monday’s, they’ll be hosting a second one on Jan. 24 at 12:00 p.m. RSVP for the virtual conversation here.
Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church Annual MLK Day Celebration
Time & Place: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church (3622 W Douglas Boulevard, Chicago)
In 1966, Dr. King spoke to the congregation of North Lawndale’s Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church as the Civil Rights Movement was picking up considerable momentum in the North. That same year, Dr. King moved his family to 1550 N. Hamlin Avenue in Lawndale to bring attention to the dangerous living conditions and housing discrimination in Chicago.
Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church will hold its annual breakfast and following speaker session to commemorate not only Dr. King’s global impact, but his irrevocable ties to Chicago. In coordination with the North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society and the Jewish United Fund, Stone Temple will host several speakers as a part of the holiday’s celebration. RSVP for the event here.
Chicago Protest & March to: Stop the Trump Agenda
Time & Place: 11:00 a.m. at the Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago).
This is one of two major protests happening in Chicago on Monday. Stop the Trump Agenda, a collective of more than 70 organizations, is an effort to “fight for our freedom by uniting across all segments of the peoples’ movements as we resist and build greater collective power for working and all oppressed people,” according to the press release.
One of the endorsing organizations is the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP), which aims to revive the anti-imperialist and pro-peace philosophies ingrained into the radical Black liberation movement.
“We don’t have the luxury of despair. We have a political system that seems insurmountable to overcome, but it isn’t,” said Nicholas Richard-Thompson, Midwest organizer for BAP.
The People’s March for Justice
Time & Place: 12:00 p.m. at the Water Tower Park (Chicago & Michigan avenues)
This is the second major protest happening in downtown Chicago that day. The People’s March for Justice is uniting under two major demands for the incoming administration: stopping the genocide in Gaza and putting an end to deportations.
“We will be joining groups all over the area making it clear that the Trump agenda of racism, corporate greed and authoritarianism will be met by a peoples movement of anti-racism, people before profits, and in the words of [Emiliano] Zapata, the land belongs to those that work it,” said Cristobal Cavazos, executive director of Casa Dupage Workers Center and march organizer.
Family Event | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Time & Place: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N Clark Street, Chicago)
There will be arts and crafts, film screenings and more for families at the Chicago History Museum. Notably, the museum will screen Mighty Times: The Children’s March, a documentary highlighting the thousands of student activists who organized their own walk out and protest in 1963 Birmingham Alabama.
Tickets are included with general admission, which is FREE for Illinois residents on Monday. Reserve your ticket and view the schedule here.
Art Institute of Chicago | Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica
Time & Place: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago)
Plan a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago this Monday to explore Pan-Africanism. The exhibit, called “Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica,” is a collection of more than 300 objects from the past century aligned with the idea of a decolonial and borderless version of Black culture.
Visitors can engage with books, magazines, and vinyl records, making it a riveting activity for all ages. For tickets and more information on the exhibit, visit www.artic.edu.
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