University MLK Events to Explore King’s Vision

Week of events showcases continued relevance of King's call to service

Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at Page Auditorium in 1964
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at Page Auditorium in 1964.

In speaking at Duke University in 1964, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged a capacity audience in Page Auditorium to take on the challenging fight against “economic deprivation and social isolation” but also held out hope that “we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope; with this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discord into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”

Over the next week, Duke units across campus will take time to consider these words again, and to think how the university can advance King’s dream of freedom for all through its work in education, health care and community service.

Coming as part of the Duke Centennial Celebration, these events will also help Duke better understand its history and how King’s vision can be part of directing the university forward in its second century.

Grant Hill
Grant Hill, keynote speaker for the university’s MLK commemoration.

The university-wide commemoration will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, in Duke Chapel with keynote speaker Grant Hill, a Duke alumnus and trustee. While best known as an Olympic basketball gold medalist and an NBA Hall of Famer, Hill’s work in community service and in promoting emerging artists, as well as his deep connections with Duke and Durham will shape his address at the King commemoration.

Other speakers will include Duke President Vincent E. Price, Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, and Mary Klotman, executive vice president for health affairs and dean, School of Medicine. Duke Chapel Dean Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery will give the invocation while Rabbi Elana Friedman, campus rabbi for Jewish Life at Duke, and Chaplain Joshua Salaam, of the Center for Muslim Life will deliver a reading/prayer and benediction.

The service will also feature remarks by Duke student leaders representing the Black Student Alliance and the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, as well as special musical performances by the jazz ensembles of Duke and North Carolina Central University.

The commemoration will be livestreamed on the MLK commemoration website.

Different units at Duke will hold their own memorial events to highlight research on issues of disparities that King brought attention to during his life and to follow his call to service.

On Monday, a decades-long Duke tradition continues with the MLK Jr. Service Meal Packaging Event. Duke faculty, staff and students will join volunteers from other schools and from the Interfaith Food Shuttle to package more than 150,000 meals to be distributed to families across the Triangle. The event is organized by the Office of Durham and Community Affairs.

Among the campus events:

Friday, Jan. 12

8 a.m. Department of Medicine: Martin Luther King Memorial Medicine Grand Rounds: Gary Bennett, “You Have to Keep Moving Forward: Obesity in High-Risk Populations.” Trent Semans Center Great Hall

Saturday, Jan. 13

6 p.m. Department of Surgery and Duke Student National Medical Association: 31st Annual MLK Jr. Banquet. J.B. Duke Hotel

Sunday, Jan. 14

4 p.m. The Duke Centennial Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration with keynote speaker Grant Hill. Duke Chapel

Monday, Jan. 15

9 a.m. Office of Durham and Community Affairs and Duke Centennial Celebration: MLK Jr. Day of Service Meal Packaging Event. Duke School

Noon: Duke Athletics MLK Unity Rally with Professor Mary Williams, Dr. Aaron Goodson and student-athletes. Kville

Thursday, Jan. 18

11 a.m. Duke Health and BLACKtivate: Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration with keynote speaker Howard-John Wesley. Trent Semans Center Great Hall

For more information, visit the Duke MLK Celebration website.