Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will speak at the 37th Midwest Black Family Reunion in downtown Cincinnati. The four-day event in August is introducing new activities this year, including the city’s largest line dance.
“It’s the last hurrah of the summer,” Tiffany Luckey, owner and chief creative strategist at Ten21 Agency, says. “It’s hot, but it’s a good time. People love to celebrate, no matter what is happening in the world. People love to celebrate Black culture, especially Black people.”
King’s appearance will include a fireside chat about carrying forward her father’s legacy. As a lawyer, minister, and civil rights activist, she has spent years advocating for nonviolence through her work around the country and at The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center).
As CEO of The King Center, a nonprofit community institution founded by her mother, King has used her platform to launch global initiatives. This includes projects such as Nonviolence365, an online program for corporations, schools, and communities to utilize for training on social change and DEI.
“We’re going to delve into her hard mission as she keeps her father’s dream alive,” MBFR Executive Director Tracey Artis says. “Her coming here to Cincinnati means a lot. This city has a place in the history of Dr. Martin Luther King, and this city has a place in civil rights.”
The annual Midwest Black Family Reunion has been a staple in Cincinnati since its inauguration in 1988. This year’s theme, “Everlasting Endurance,” aims to highlight the community’s resilience during difficult times.
“This year, it just kept resonating with me and others that we’re still here. We as a people have been everlasting,” Artis says. “It speaks to our passion for our people and togetherness. We’re better together than we are apart.”
In addition to food and entertainment, this year will feature a two-day cycling event, a pickle ball tournament, and a step show by the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities. The longest line dance in reunion history will take place throughout all of Sawyer Point, with a choreographed song.
Photograph courtesy MBFR
“No matter what age you are, from two to 92, we have something for everyone,” Luckey says. “This reunion is important to keep legacies alive, to keep the Black family going, to keep the city of Cincinnati alive.”
With 51 sponsors and thousands of attendees, the reunion provides a wide range of free opportunities. From job fairs and college tours to preventative health screenings, all are designed to uplift and support families and local businesses. The annual Black historic tour will include stops at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
The Heritage Breakfast will feature keynote speaker Cynthia Booth. Musical guests include Midnight Star on August 16 and gospel singer Fred Hammond on August 17. This year, the parade will take place downtown for easier access to nearby events at Sawyer Point, such as vendors and games.
The 37th Midwest Black Family Reunion will be held August 14 to 17 at Sawyer Point. Admission is free.
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