Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15, 2024) serves as a reminder to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by engaging in acts of service and promoting inclusivity within our communities. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to come together, reflect on the progress made, and strive for a more equitable society.
Historical Significance
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK day honors the incredible achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his tireless efforts in advocating for civil rights and equality. Dr. King was a Baptist minister who fought to end racial segregation through peace and nonviolent means. He became the most influential African American civil rights leader during the 1960s. In addition, he helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited racial discrimination in public facilities, employment and accommodations illegal. Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was also an important figure in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
Programming & Events:
Washington University School of Medicine Campus:
- Monday, January 15th – Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service – Volunteer Opportunities
- Tuesday, January 16th from 12:00-1:30pm in Connor Auditorium – WUSM DEI Update given by Dr. Sherree Wilson, Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Tuesday, January 16th from 4:30-6:00pm in Cori Auditorium – Film Viewing – King in the Wilderness hosted by Association of Black Biomedical Graduate Students, the Black Postdoc Association, and ODEI
- Wednesday, January 17th from 4:45-6:15 pm in Connor Auditorium, Farrell Learning and Teaching Center – Keynote Panel: WUSM Leader Panel on MLK, Jr.’s Impact
- Friday, January 19th from 12:30-2:00pm in Cori Auditorium – MLK, Jr. Book Club Kickoff -“The Seminarian: Martin Luther King, Jr. Comes of Age”
Washington University – Danforth Campus:
- Monday, January 15th from 11:30am-1:30pm in Tisch Commons – Community Service Project making dental hygiene kits for the Youth and Family Center, care packages for the unhoused, blankets for area animal shelters, and cards for local senior citizens.
- Monday, January 15th from 2:00-3:30pm in Graham Chapel – 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration.
- Speaker: Adia Harvey Wingfield, PhD – Vice Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity and Professor of Sociology