Greetings! Our GBE King Day-Emancipation Month 2019 is setting the stage for the celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Dr. King was born Jan. 15,1929, but the holiday, which is a U.S. federal holiday, is celebrated on the third Monday of January (this year Monday, Jan. 21,) as King Day or MLK Day. It will be a day “on” not a day “off” (See Theater, Music and Community for more information.)

Congratulations to Regina King, who received a Golden Globe from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for Best Supporting Actress in the Barry Jenkins film, based on the James Baldwin book, “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Also please note our Friday Radio GBE broadcast over WBAI moves back a half-hour to the 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. slot starting this Friday.

THEATER

“American Son,” a gripping tale about who we are as a nation and how we deal with family relationships, love, loss and identity. Starring Kerry Washington (“Scandal,” “Race”) and Steven Pasquale. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun,” “Fences”). Marking the Broadway debut of playwright Christopher Demos-Brown. Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Show runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Call 212-239-6200 or visit www.americanson.com or telecharge.com.

“King Kong.” He’s 20 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds. He’s monstrous and moving. And he is on Broadway now in a $35 million musical that has been in development for nearly a decade. Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, New York, N.Y. Call 844-379-0370 or visit www.ticketoffices.com.

“Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom.” Lynda Blackmon Lowery was 14 years old when she took part in the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Ala. and turned 15 while participating in marches such as “Bloody Sunday” (Based on Blackmon Lowery’s book “Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March”). New York’s Riverside Church, Saturday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For information, visit https://turning15atriverside.eventbrite.com or call 212-870-6792.

“The Day Harlem Saved Dr. King.” Written and directed by Michael Green. Presented by New Heritage Theatre Group, in association with Harlem Advocates for Seniors and Williams Institutional One Church. Did you know that Dr. King was stabbed at a book signing and saved by surgeons at Harlem Hospital? Only five performances, Jan. 15 to Jan. 21. Special opening night performance Jan. 15. For more information and to purchase tickets, call Michael at 646-458-9578 or visit shadesoftruththeatre.com.

MUSIC

“Amateur Night at the Apollo,” every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. World famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem, N.Y. For information, visit apollotheater.org.

“This Is Hip-Hop,” Friday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m., featuring Rakim, The Lox, EPMD, Black Moon and Brand Nubian. Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., New York, N.Y.

Anthony Hamilton, Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

“All Stars of Hip-Hop.” Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Slick Rick, Whodunnit, Onyx, Nice and Smooth and Sweet Tee. Sunday, Jan. 20, at Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J. Visit www.platinumshows.com.

Wu Tang Clan, Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m., Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Brian McKnight, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m., Sony Hall, 235 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. CeCe Winans, Anthony Brown and J.J. Hairston, Friday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

DANCE

Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded by the late, brilliant, boundary-breaking ballet master Arthur Mitchell, takes center stage in a Martin Luther King celebration. The Kupferberg Center for Arts, Colden Auditorium at Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, N.Y. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, from 4 p.m. Call 718-544-2996 or visit www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/newyorkseason.

FILM

“If Beale Street Could Talk” is about a woman in Harlem who desperately scrambles to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime while carrying their first child. Directed by and written for film by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins. Based on the book by James Baldwin. Check theaters.

“Creed II” rediscovers what makes a champion in the first place and reminds that no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history, with Michael B. Jordan, Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester Stallone and Phylicia Rashad. Check theaters.

COMMUNITY

The 2019 Women’s March marks two years of resistance to the Trump presidency. Jan.19, 2019, the #Women’sWave is coming and sweeping the world forward with them. For more information, visit www.womensmarch.com/2019/.

Join the National Action Network in honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. NAN is hosting King Day, Jan. 21, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a celebration uptown in Harlem at the House of Justice, 100 W. 145th St. Call 877-626-4651 or visit natinalactinnetwork.net.

The 33rd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be presented by Borough President Eric L. Adams and Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. The event will bring world-renowned activists, public figures and civic leaders together to pay tribute to King’s legacy. A full day of events will include a movie screening and art exhibition. The keynote speaker is Me Too founder Tarana Burke. Musical performers are Oddisee and The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir.

Imhotep Gary Byrd’s “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com, WLIB.com and NextRadio. IGB’s “Beat Experience” is heard Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Archived online at www.wbai.org. For bookings or to reach us about your GBEvent or for comments, email co-editor Nyerere, nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or call 212-592-3279.