Home > Programs & Outreach > MLK Celebration >

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Archives

2004
"Rewriting History/Reclaiming Space:
50 Years After Brown v. Board of Education"

Keynote Speaker:  Shanta Driver

Calendar of Events January 12-18 January 19-25 January 26-February 1 Ongoing Events

• Keynote Address information
• Go to: Social Justice Awards - Recipient biographies and nomination form
  
  
  
  
  

2005
"Inside/Out: Making the Invisible Visible"

Keynote Speaker: Dorothy Allison

Calendar of Events January 15-21 January 22-February 6 Ongoing Events  Social Justice Awards Recipient biographies and nomination form

This year the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee is examining how identity is formed and how social order is constructed and maintained. We are particularly interested in the order that is achieved by our individual consent, whether explicit or implicit. Over the course of this celebration, we will examine the places in society where laws and regulations are replaced by traditions (de jure v. de facto) that are even more stifling than the roles a court would have assigned or enforced on our social relationships, housing patterns, class status, and job opportunities. Some of the questions we hope to explore include: How does the imagination interact with these "invisible" rules and make allowance for the construction of any individual's social identity? How is the "closet" produced and sustained? Why would the social liberties of some people and groups be ignored and limited by our imaginations? What prevents us from appreciating the fundamental need for public access accommodations for people with disabilities? What motivates us to care so deeply about the institution of marriage and deny the possibility of extending the right to marry to citizens who are of the same sex? What causes us to create these restrictions? Is it our limited capacity or our desire for order--or is it an indication of our beliefs regarding dominance and social hierarchy?  We look forward to engaging with the community in January as we take a look at ourselves from the inside out.

2006
"Between Heaven and Hell: Religion, Politics, and Civil Rights"

Keynote Speaker: Reverend Dr. James Forbes, Jr.

Calendar of Events January 11-20 January 21-February 6 Ongoing Events Social Justice Awards Recipient biographies and nomination form

The 2006 MLK theme examined the intersection of religion and politics and the impact it has had on the construction of civil rights. Dr. Rev. James Forbes was our MLK keynote speaker on Monday, January 16, 2006. The keynote address, "The Source, Scope and Spirit of the Dream", provided the campus with a meaningful opportunity to consider and discuss how religion creates a foundation for approaching and working on civil rights issues.

 

2007
"Lift Every Voice: Freedom's Artists and the Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights"
Keynote Speaker: Harry Belafonte

Towards Freedom: Dr. King's 1962 speech given at Dartmouth College.

Schedule @ a Glance Detailed Schedule of Events January 14 - 15 January 16 - 18 January 19 - 21 January 22 - 26 Ongoing Events Affiliated Campus Events Social Justice Awards Recipient biographies and nomination form

This year's Celebration theme – "Lift Every Voice: Freedom's Artists and the Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights" – is especially poignant today. As we strive to maintain the legacies of Dr. King's commitment to equity, respect, and justice, we find strength in the inspiration and insight provided through artistic expression. The speakers, performers, and artists who are part of this year's program remind us that creative anger, joyous celebration, and loving compassion can move mountains. Join us as we lift our voices in support of a just society.

Judith Byfield and Giavanna Munafo
Co-Chairs, 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee