See Jea Street Jr.’s MLK Day performance at the Delaware Art Museum

Jea Street Jr. wore a 302 Guns Down t-shirt for his live performance the MLK Day of Service event at the Delaware Art Museum on Monday.

In a family-friendly event, hosted by One Village Alliance and Raising Kings in partnership with Delaware Art Museum, musicians and poets like Street performed throughout the day. There were also mentoring opportunities; a station for guests to write “Lifeline Letters” to veterans, incarcerated youth and homeless community members and art projects.

The day also offered access to the museum’s collections, including guided tours highlighting African American Delaware artists including Edward Loper (whose work will make up a highly anticipated exhibit at the museum this spring) and Aaron Douglas.

The anti-violence organization for which Street serves as a board member had a larger role in the MLK Peace March on 4th Street later in the day, but earlier, in the sunny atrium of the museum, he sang about Clifford the Big Red Dog to a gathering of rapt children and adults who recognize that it’s really a song about inclusion.

Here’s video from the performance:

Before launching into his song “Hammer,” Street said that the song was written years ago – an upbeat but prescient song about “breaking those walls.”

(Videos by Holly Quinn)