On Monday, January 18, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 24th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The event, presented by BP Markowitz, BAM, and Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York, is New York City’s largest public celebration in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

“Brooklyn and New York are the greatest cities in the world because we look like the world—and yet we are one family,” BP Markowitz told the gathering. “Brooklyn—to paraphrase the hit song ‘Empire State of Mind’ by Alicia Keys and Brooklyn’s own Jay-Z—can indeed be a ‘concrete jungle where dreams are made of.’ And together, as we work to make the dreams of Dr. King and all good people a reality, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

The keynote address was delivered by acclaimed actor, director, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover. Musical performances by The New Life Tabernacle Mass Choir and special guest Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra, who is widely regarded as one of the best beatboxers in the world, rounded out the program.