SiriusXM Honours Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life And Legacy With Impactful Specials

This year, SiriusXM will be reflecting on what makes Martin Luther King Jr. Day such an essential national holiday in the United States, particularly in light of the ongoing movements for racial justice across the US. King made fundamental strides in protesting racial discrimination on federal and state levels through activism and civil disobedience, leaving an indelible mark on both future activists and the world at large. In the years since King’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech and Montgomery bus boycott, his work and words remain as relevant as ever as the fight against racism and discrimination continues.

See how SiriusXM is honouring Dr. King below (all times in ET).

Dr. King’s Impact on Sports

Throughout an hour-long special, SiriusXM NBA Radio (Ch. 86) will be highlighting Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on athletes everywhere, particularly in the NBA. Host Jason Jackson will speak with former Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach David Fizdale, Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens and Ray Allen, and two-time WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery about King, civil rights, racial injustice, and more.

All weekend long leading up to the holiday, All Access subscribers can catch the honours on Saturday, January 16th at 1 pm, Sunday, January 1th7 at 6 pm, and Monday, January 18th at 10 am.

Civil Rights Anthems and Speeches

Listeners can feel Dr. King’s revolutionary soul through a special selection of Civil Rights-themed songs throughout the day, as well as excerpt’s from King’s legendary speeches and best-known addresses on Soul Town (Ch. 49). Don’t miss the meaningful tribute all day long on Monday, January 18th.

Baseball and Black America

In the spirit of the day, MLB Network Radio (Ch. 89 and Sirius 209) will feature two separate Baseball and Black America roundtable discussions focused on the challenges of 2020 and the relevance of Dr. King today. On Monday, January 18th at 1 pm, Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro League Museum, will host the special, joined by former All-Star free agent Dee Strange-Gordon and Rangers Pitcher Taylor Hearn. Later, at 7 pm, former big leaguer Xavier Scruggs will lead a conversation with former All-Star Cubs Outfielder Jason Heyward, Padres Outfielder Tommy Pham, and Marlins Outfielder Lewis Brinson. Platinum subscribers can hear both specials at their respective times.

Honouring HBCUs

As a celebrated alum of Morehouse College, Martin Luther King Jr.’s, movements for racial injustice (particularly his speeches told on campuses and work with student-activism organizations) went a long way in spotlighting the influence and prestige of historically black colleges and universities. On Monday, January 18th, ESPNU Radio (Ch. 84) will be airing the Notre Dame-Howard University basketball game at 2:30 pm, marking the first time an HBCU has hosted an ACC team.

NFLers Remember Dr. King

For Platinum subscribers, SiriusXM NFL Radio (Ch. 88) will be paying tribute to King’s lasting legacy with two memorial specials. The channel will be joining forces with Mad Dog Sports Radio (Ch. 82) for Pursuit of the Dream, a show hosted by former NFL players Kirk Morrison and George Wrightster in which they revisit the history of Black NFL players and King’s impact on players across the league. The special will air on Monday, January 18th at 6 pm on Mad Dog Sports Radio and 7 pm on SiriusXM NFL Radio. SiriusXM NFL Radio will also air a new edition of Forward Progress, the series where athletes and other notable voices in sports weigh in on racial justice and reform.

Racial Justice TODAY

On Monday, January 18th at 1 pm, Hoda Kotb will honour Martin Luther King Jr. Day during a new episode of her TODAY Show Radio (Ch. 108) show. After reflecting on the civil rights leader’s impact and the current state of racial injustice, listeners will also hear Hoda’s “healing hour” with Rabbi Leeder, Bishop Ulmer, Maria Shriver, and Johnetta Bryant. The special will also replay throughout the day and week

Celebrating Culture and Golf

In light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NBC Sports will be examining how culture, racial justice, and more relevant topics converge in the world of golf during the debut of the new Beyond the Fairway podcast, hosted by Doug Smith and Will Lowery. On Tuesday, January 19th, listeners can catch the premiere episode, featuring two-time NBA Champion Ray Allen, Don Cheadle, Larry Fitzgerald, Kyle Lowry, and Cedric the Entertainer, on the SiriusXM app.