CHICAGO—Approximately 900 attendees filled a South Loop downtown hotel ballroom on Jan. 17 for the 39th annual interfaith breakfast to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Chicago’s Black elected officials, entrepreneurs, and faith communities, including members of the Nation of Islam, gathered to reflect on Dr. King’s profound impact and recommit to the fight against racism and economic inequality.
The event—with the American, Chicago and Black liberation flags on stage—served as both a celebration of Dr. King’s life and a resounding call to action for justice, equity, and unity in the face of the challenges ahead.
Three Chicagoans were honored with the Champion of Freedom Award for their dedication to equality and justice: Spencer Leak Sr., a prominent Chicago businessman, community leader, and the president of Leak and Sons Funeral Homes who is renowned for his decades of service and advocacy for social justice and the Black community;
Larry Huggins, a respected philanthropist and construction executive, known for his leadership in business development and dedication to uplifting underserved communities; and Dr. Horace Smith, pastor of Apostolic Faith Church in Chicago, a medical doctor, and a compassionate advocate for spiritual and physical wellness in the community.
“This event is an opportunity for Blacks to get together and be reinvigorated,” said Alderwoman Michelle Harris (D-Chicago). Because as the speaker said, we need to stay woke, because when you sleep, people do a lot of things. I want Black folks to stay woke so we will be part of the solution.”
During his remarks, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted the legacy of Dr. King and declared the beginning of a “new reconstruction era” reminiscent of the post-Civil War period.
“We are fighting for better schools, we are fighting for better healthcare, we are fighting for transportation systems that are affordable, reliable and safe, we are fighting to make sure that those that are struggling for their mental health, that they actually have access to those services,” he said.
Highlighting the city’s origins that started with a “Black Haitian immigrant who fell in love with a Potawatomi woman becoming the first Black family in Chicago,” Mayor Johnson reaffirmed Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city, pledging to support immigrants despite threats of mass deportations.
“We will never turn our backs on those who seek to find refuge in the greatest city in the world,” he said. “Chicago is a haven for freedom. We will always remain a welcoming place for the globe,” said Mayor Johnson.
A program highlight included a powerful interfaith unity prayer with Sultan Rahman Muhammad, Student National Imam of the Nation of Islam. Wishing peace to those gathered, Imam Muhammad said, “the prayer of peace is one of the greatest prayers to offer in this time, in this hour in humanity.
The prayer of peace, the prayer of justice, the prayer of equality,” he said. “These three essentials of life as taught to us by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: freedom, justice and equality; the three essentials of life,” he said before reciting the first chapter in the Holy Qur’an entitled, “The Opening.”
The unity prayer included remarks by Rev. Tanya Lozano Washington, daughter of Rev. Slim Coleman of Holy Ground Chicago; Rabbi Reni Dickman of the Chicago Board Rabbis, and Rev. Juan Vargas of St. Bartholomew Church.
Members of the Nation of Islam Shura Executive Council attended the program, including Student Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, Student National Secretary Sa’ad Alim Muhammad, Brother Leonard F. Muhammad and Student National Protocol Director Abdul Ra’uf Muhammad.
Commenting on the presence of the Nation of Islam at the event, Brother Leonard F. Muhammad stated it was “an opportunity for us to share with our brothers and sisters on a very beautiful occasion.
I thought they welcomed us very well and Insha’Allah (God-willing), we’ll see some of these same people at Saviours’ Day 2025,” he said, referring to the Nation of Islam’s major convention scheduled for Feb. 21-23 in Chicago.
Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, a local historian and community advocate, reflected on Dr. King’s lessons learned from his time in Chicago. “Chicago gave Dr. King his first loss.
When he came to the West Side of Chicago he was facing the democratic machine, facing decades of segregation, facing decades of systematic racism,” said Mr. Thomas. Dr. King left Chicago based on the promise of Mayor Richard J. Daley to improve Chicago’s racist past by adhering to Dr. King’s list of demands. Dr. King left, but nothing changed.
Mr. Thomas said Dr. King learned a powerful lesson. “Dr. King always said, ‘Don’t leave without the paperwork.’ He knew that marching was important, but having a plan and policies was what created lasting change,” Mr. Thomas said.
The program also featured stirring gospel performances from Jonathan McReynolds and the Chicago HBCU Alumni Choir.
Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, author of “April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America,” delivered a fiery address that electrified the audience. He warned of the challenges ahead.
Dr. Dyson celebrated the “Blackness” of Mayor Johnson, applauded him for brilliance and urged attendees to confront systemic oppression, condemning economic inequity, systemic racism, and the nation’s “addiction to war.” He also denounced the war in Gaza, which he noted has claimed nearly 50,000 civilian lives.
“This is gonna be a tough four years,” Dr. Dyson declared. “But my pastor used to tell me we’ve already been through what we’ve come to. This ain’t the first time, this ain’t even the worst,” said Dr. Dyson.
He gave a brief overview of the struggles Black people have faced since chattel slavery. “Martin Luther King Jr. told the truth,” Dr. Dyson concluded. “And we gotta tell the truth as well.”
