With speakers like Ibram X. Kendi, Dr. Clarence B. Jones and Shonda Rhimes, Westport’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day has become one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking events of the year.
Next month’s will be another don’t-miss afternoon.
Jelani Cobb — renowned journalist, scholar, and dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism — is the guest of honor at the 20th annual celebration.
It’s set for the Westport Library on Saturday, January 17, 2026 (1 p.m.). Cobb will be in conversation with novelist, playwright, filmmaker — and Westport resident — Trey Ellis.
Jelani Cobb
Cobb is a Peabody Award winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist, MSNow political analyst, and New Yorker staff writer. He has written books on Barack Obama and the hip hop aesthetic, in addition to editing other volumes and producing numerous documentaries.
He was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2023, and is a recipient of fellowships from the Ford Foundation, Fulbright Foundation, and the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
The annual MLK celebration is a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport Museum for History & Culture, and the Westport/Weston Clergy Association.
“Dr. King reminded us that ‘the day we see truth and cease to speak is the day we begin to die,’ says Harold Bailey, TEAM Westport chair.
“At a moment when the very idea of truth is under unprecedented pressure, there could be no more fitting focus than journalism. And there is no more powerful champion of its purpose and integrity than Jelani Cobb. We are truly fortunate to welcome him as we mark the 20th anniversary of the MLK celebration in Westport.”
“We are thrilled to honor and welcome both Dr. Cobb and Trey Ellis at the Library for this 20th anniversary celebration,” adds Library executive director Bill Harmer.
“Dr. Cobb is a groundbreaking figure in his field. Westport is incredibly fortunate to have him here to help us celebrate the life and memory of Dr. King.”
Click here for more information, and to reserve free tickets.
