(AllHipHop News) Grammy award-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari has been tapped to take part in the Martin Luther King Memorial dedication, which is taking place this weekend in Washington DC.
Miri Ben-Ari, who has worked with artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Jadakiss, Akon, Twista, T-Pain, Wu-Tang, Styles P, and others, is the only non-African American performer to participate in Sunday’s televised memorial, which will also feature appearances by President Barack Obama, a number of civil rights leaders, and various entertainers.
Miri Ben-Ari will take to the stage at 10:00 AM, where she will perform her original composition “Black Tone.”
“I moved to the US all the way from Israel with a dream,” said Miri Ben-Ari. It has been a tough journey; legacies such as MLK’s inspired me not to give up and to follow my Dream.”
The Hip-Hop violinist said she was looking forward to Sunday’s performance, because the fight against racism is something that is close to her family and dear to her heart.
“Racism is the reason so many families get torn apart, I am a third generation to holocaust survivors and so the universal fight against racism is very personal to me,” continued Miri Ben-Ari. “Being chosen to perform as the only non-African performer this Sunday, I feel that my story represents the “American dream” as well as the universal message of Martin Luther King, which encompasses freedom, rights and possibilities.”
The MLK Memorial took almost 15 years to complete and features a 450 foot inscription wall with over a dozen quotes from the legendary civil rights leader, along with a 30 foot sculpture of Dr. King.
A variety of rappers donated to help raise funds for the MLK Memorial, including Nelly, Russell Simmons and others.
